Thread: Illegal Immigrant Raid in Scranton

Illegal Immigrant Raid in Scranton
Thursday, October 25, UPDATED: 5:12 p.m.
By Josh Brogadir

Dozens of suspected illegal immigrants were taken into custody by federal agents Thursday morning during a raid in Scranton.

Agents went to a company that makes equipment for the military, rounding up about one-third of the people there and taking them into custody.

Employees said they heard a knock at the door at North American Manufacturing, stopping production. The company makes field and ammunition packs and cots for the U.S. military.

Police blocked the street and federal agents went in about 8:15 a.m. Company officials estimate they took out about 40 of their 120 first-shift workers.

Antwan Garner is an American citizen. He was inside putting together a military cot when it all happened.

"They asked for all the American citizens to go to one side of the room and all the immigrants to the other side, and they did a little test looking at people working. A lot of things went down today. This was crazy," Garner said.

Many suspected illegal immigrants were led out by Immigration and Customs enforcement agents.

Several family members and friends watched as the workers were led into a waiting bus and van. George Guevara's mother was not taken away but his cousins were.

"They're not criminals you know, just working. Me, I've been here for seven years, you know. I'm legal in this country but either way, they look at us the same way, you know, whether we're legal or not legal," Guevara said.

North American Manufacturing officials said some of the employees taken into custody were long-time workers. They said they were shocked to see immigration agents arrive and said they never expected anything like this,
especially because the company has checked the identification and social security cards of all of their 135 workers.

The immigration office in Washington D.C. has not commented about the number of arrests or about any charges.

The plant manager at North American Manufacturing Plant said he has heard from his employees that all the women who were taken into custody have been released but the men were taken on a bus to the immigration office in Philadelphia.

At this point, there is no word if they are coming back.
http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S= ... =menu158_2

Sorry zeezil. Duplicate post. Please refer comments to:
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-88157-scranton.html