Thread: ICE raids Christensen Farms in Sleepy Eye; warrants served in multi-state raid

UPDATE: ICE raids Christensen Farms in Sleepy Eye; warrants served in multi-state raid

• By Tim Krohn tkrohn@mankatofreepress.com

• 23 hrs ago

SLEEPY EYE — Christensen Farms in Sleepy Eye was among work sites raided by immigration officials Wednesday, accused of knowingly hiring illegal workers.

The raid was part of a multi-state investigation into several ag-related businesses in Minnesota and Nebraska.

Christensen is one of the largest hog producers in the country.

“The job magnet in the United States is primarily what draws illegal aliens across our borders,” Special Agent in Charge Tracy J. Cormier of Homeland Security Investigations said in a press release.

“This HSI-led criminal investigation has shown that these targeted businesses were knowingly hiring illegal workers to unlawfully line their own pockets by cheating the workers, cheating the taxpayers, and cheating their business competitors.”

As 15 to 20 ICE agents descended on the Sleepy Eye headquarters of Christensen, company spokeswoman Amber Portner said they were cooperating with officials.

"We're unaware of any wrongdoing by our company."
Christensen Farms has nearly 1,000 employees and 1,500 contract partners across the Midwest. They operate four feed mills, manage 145,000 sows on 44 farms, and oversee more than 350 nurseries and grow-finish sites.

Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations also administratively arrested 133 people for illegally working in the U.S.

ICE said some of those arrested will be issued notices to appear before a federal immigration judge and released from custody while the rest will remain in ICE custody pending immigration court proceedings.

They did not say how many were arrested from Christensen facilities and said the investigation is ongoing.

Homeland Security said it also issued arrest warrants for 17 individuals connected to an alleged criminal conspiracy to exploit illegal alien laborers for profit, fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in Minnesota, Nebraska and Nevada.

ICE said the 17 individuals are believed to have "colluded to create an illegal alien workforce in their respective businesses. By doing so, they defrauded the U.S. government and created an unfair advantage over their competition businesses.

Additionally, authorities suspect the illegal aliens who were knowingly hired as part of this alleged conspiracy were exploited by the conspirators through force, coercion, or threat of arrest and/or deportation," the agency said in a statement.

"Specifically, these illegal aliens were allegedly required to cash their paychecks at an illegal remittance business for a fee, have tax money deducted from their pay even though this money was never paid to the government, and were coerced to remain quiet about this criminal activity."

The enforcement action is part of a 15-month Homeland Security investigation based on evidence that these companies allegedly knowingly hired illegal aliens at their facilities, and that many of these aliens are using fraudulent identification belonging to U.S. citizens, the ICE news release said.

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/news...2c9f7b45f.html

Put all 133 illegal aliens in Federal Tent City on Federal Land.

Serve time and DEPORT every one of them.

Go round up their illegal families and deport the whole LOT of them!

Illegal parents are the guardians and custodians of their minor children....do NOT leave them behind!

You take them with you!

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

ICE said some of those arrested will be issued notices to appear before a federal immigration judge and released from custody while the rest will remain in ICE custody pending immigration court proceedings.

Spinning wheels and going no where. All that time and money spent to find just these few of the 40 million here and turn them loose.

NO NOTICE TO APPEAR!

THEY ARE HERE ILLEGALLY

THEY ARE WORKING ILLEGALLY

FAST TRACK DEPORT THEM OUT OF HERE!

08/08/2018

ICE executes federal search warrants in Nebraska, Minnesota and Nevada
133 arrested on immigration violations while executing the criminal warrants








GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — During a multi-state operation led by special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a series of criminal arrest warrants were executed Wednesday for 17 individuals connected to an alleged criminal conspiracy to exploit illegal alien laborers for profit, fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in Nebraska and Minnesota.

In addition to these arrest warrants, authorities also served search warrants for worksite hiring violations at agricultural firms in Nebraska and Minnesota, and federal document search warrants at locations throughout Nebraska, in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota; Appleton, Minnesota; and Las Vegas, Nevada. During this investigation, authorities identified employees who were subject to arrest for immigration violations and were unlawfully working at these businesses. These individuals have been illegally residing and working in the United States; they may also have been exploited as part of this alleged criminal conspiracy. During the execution of these search warrants Aug. 8, 133 illegal workers were administratively arrested for immigration violations; some will be issued notices to appear before a federal immigration judge and released from custody; the rest will remain in ICE custody pending immigration court proceedings.

Law enforcement believes the alleged conspirators, 17 individuals located in multiple states, colluded to create an illegal alien workforce in their respective businesses. By doing so, they defrauded the U.S. government and created an unfair advantage over their competition businesses. Additionally, authorities suspect the illegal aliens who were knowingly hired as part of this alleged conspiracy were exploited by the conspirators through force, coercion, or threat of arrest and/or deportation. Specifically, these illegal aliens were allegedly required to cash their paychecks at an illegal remittance business for a fee, have tax money deducted from their pay even though this money was never paid to the government, and were coerced to remain quiet about this criminal activity.

Search warrants were served at the following businesses and locations:

• Christensen Farms with numerous locations in Appleton, Minnesota; Sleepy Eye, Minnesota; and Atkinson, Nebraska;
• Elkhorn River Farms in O’Neill, Nebraska;
• O’Neill Ventures in O’Neill, Nebraska;
• La Herradura Restaurant in O’Neill, Nebraska;
• El Mercadito (grocery store) in O’Neill, Nebraska;
• A private ranch in O’Neill, Nebraska;
• La Herradura Restaurant in Stromsburg, Nebraska;
• GJW LLC with three locations in Ainsworth, Nebraska;
• J.E. Meurets Grain Company in Ainsworth, Nebraska;
• Herd Co Cattle Company in Bartlett, Nebraska; and
• Long Pine (farm) in Royal, Nebraska.

Note: The above list of locations does not include private residences included in the execution of search and arrest warrants.

This enforcement action is part of a 15-month, ongoing HSI investigation based on evidence that these companies allegedly knowingly hired illegal aliens at their facilities, and that many of these aliens are using fraudulent identification belonging to U.S. citizens.

“The job magnet in the United States is primarily what draws illegal aliens across our borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Tracy J. Cormier, HSI St. Paul, which oversees Nebraska and Minnesota. “This HSI-led criminal investigation has shown that these targeted businesses were knowingly hiring illegal workers to unlawfully line their own pockets by cheating the workers, cheating the taxpayers, and cheating their business competitors.”

The following individuals were listed in the indictment. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are not yet in custody follow the Aug. 8 criminal arrests.

• Juan Pablo Sanchez Delgado, aka "Pablo,"
• Antonio De Jesus Castro, aka "Tony,"
• Magdalena Castro Benitez, aka ''Nena,"
• Alma Hernandez Moreno, aka "Aunt,"
• Anayancy Castro Hernandez, aka "Anay,"
• *Fabian Castro, aka "Fabi,"
• Suni Sarahi Sanchez Delgado
• *Osvaldo Sanchez Delgado, aka "Lalo," aka "Lalito,"
• John Christopher Good,
• *Aracely Heredia Martinez, aka "Donita,"
• Eric Beringer,
• Christopher Thurlow,
• Mayra P. Jimenez Castellon,
• Asiyadeth Jimenez Castellon,
• John Glidden,
• *Jaime Garcia Cota, aka "David," and
• Lillian Ajin.

This HSI-led enforcement action was coordinated with federal, state and local counterparts including the following agencies: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol, CBP Air and Marine Operations; and the following Nebraska law enforcement agencies: Holt County Sheriff’s Office, O’Neill Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol.

In the context of any enforcement action, ICE utilizes prosecutorial discretion on cases involving humanitarian concerns, such as health or family considerations. Accordingly, during the enforcement action Wednesday, several individuals were processed and released from custody the same day on humanitarian grounds.

The illegal aliens who remain in ICE custody after being administratively arrested on immigration violations will be transported to a nearby processing facility and placed in removal proceedings. Detained aliens will be held in facilities in Nebraska and Minnesota while awaiting removal proceedings.

A 24-hour toll-free detainee locator hotline is available for family members of those arrested in this operation to field questions about their detention location and status, and the removal process. The hotline operates in English and Spanish; the phone number is 1-888-351-4024.

The allegations contained in federal indictments, complaints and warrants are merely accusations and are not proof of wrongdoing. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

HSI is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for upholding the laws established by the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), which requires employers to verify the identity and work eligibility of individuals they hire.

These laws help protect jobs for U.S. citizens and other lawful residents, eliminate unfair competitive advantages for companies that unlawfully hire an illegal workforce, and strengthen public safety and national security.

As in this case, unauthorized workers often use stolen identities of legal U.S. workers, which can profoundly damage for years the identity-theft victim’s credit, medical records and other aspects of their everyday life.

HSI’s worksite enforcement investigators help combat worker exploitation, illegal wages, child labor and other illegal practices. Worksite enforcement investigations often involve additional criminal activity, such as alien smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, document fraud, worker exploitation and/or substandard wage and working conditions.

In addition to conducting investigations, HSI also uses I-9 audits to create a culture of compliance among employers. In July, ICE announced a two-phase operation under this effort.


https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ic...ota-and-nevada

Originally Posted by Newmexican

In the context of any enforcement action, ICE utilizes prosecutorial discretion on cases involving humanitarian concerns, such as health or family considerations. Accordingly, during the enforcement action Wednesday, several individuals were processed and released from custody the same day on humanitarian grounds.

This is disgusting! 15 months investigation and a few million and turn them loose, and they wonder why people have lost faith in government.

Only in America will illegals have more benefits than citizens.

Originally Posted by Newmexican

A 24-hour toll-free detainee locator hotline is available for family members of those arrested in this operation to field questions about their detention location and status, and the removal process. The hotline operates in English and Spanish; the phone number is 1-888-351-4024.

Tax payers paying for this extra benefit for the illegals.

Of course, give their family members a chance to hit the streets and start protesting, and singing their sad songs to the media.

Instead spend the dollars this hot line is costing to round up those family members.

Suspects targeted by ICE raids had bought 4 Las Vegas homes

Greenhouse, potato operations hit by immigration raids

Tom Karst August 9, 2018 05:17 PM




O’Neill Ventures, O'Neill, Neb., was one of several agricultural operations targeted in raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Aug. 8. ( Courtesy News Channel Nebraska )

A 10-acre hydroponic greenhouse complex and a large potato farming operation in O’Neill, Neb., were two of several agricultural businesses targeted in raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

According to an ICE news release, O’Neill Ventures, a greenhouse in north-central Nebraska, and potato operation Elkhorn River Farms, were two sites in a series of warrants served Aug. 8 on 17 individuals connected to an alleged criminal conspiracy to exploit unauthorized laborers for profit; fraud; wire fraud; and money laundering in Nebraska and Minnesota.

Federal officials said the enforcement action is part of a 15-month, ongoing Homeland Security investigation based on evidence that these companies allegedly knowingly hired unauthorized workers, and that many of these workers use fraudulent identification belonging to U.S. citizens.

According to a 2015 report on Grownebraska.com, Elkhorn River Farms produced 4,000 acres of russet potatoes for the fresh retail and foodservice markets in the O’Neill, Atkinson, and Basset areas of Holt and Rock counties in Nebraska.

The Grand Island Independent online reported Aug. 8 that the O’Neill Ventures hydroponic greenhouse complex is capable of producing 250,000 pounds of tomatoes a week.

Federal immigration enforcement officers surrounded the facility the morning of Aug. 8. Quoting an employee, The Independent reported about 80 employees worked at the plant.

Only about 20 remained after the raid, the employee told the news outlet.

Michael Marsh, president and CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, said there have been reports of ICE raids on a number of agricultural operations this year.

“It’s concerning, in particular when you are in the part of the year where you are either harvesting your crops or your preparing to harvest your crops and with near-record low unemployment in the U.S.,” he said. “There are fewer and fewer Americans lining up to do seasonal ag jobs.”

The release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement said federal authorities also served search warrants for work site hiring violations at agricultural firms in Nebraska and Minnesota, and federal document search warrants at locations throughout Nebraska; in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota; Appleton, Minnesota; and Las Vegas.

ICE officials said that during the execution of search warrants on those firms Aug. 8, 133 unauthorized workers were administratively arrested for immigration violations.

Federal law enforcement officers believe the alleged conspirators, 17 individuals located in multiple states, colluded to create an unauthorized workforce in their businesses, according to the release.

The release said the unauthorized workers were allegedly required to cash their paychecks at an illegal remittance business for a fee, have tax money deducted from their pay even though this money was never paid to the government, and were coerced to remain quiet about this criminal activity.

https://www.thepacker.com/article/gr...igration-raids

A lot of Puerto Rican's here with NO jobs...on welfare and food stamps.

A lot of inner city people with NO jobs...on welfare and food stamps!

Set up a program and get them to work!

Bus them to these places and put them to work!

If we can be FORCED to pay to bus illegal aliens all over the country...we can pay to bus Americans to these towns and get them to work now!

BUS THE ILLEGAL ALIENS BACK OVER THE BORDER!!!

NO MORE RELEASING THEM ON OUR SOIL.