Thread: Illegal Swift Workers Remain Detained

Illegal Swift Workers Remain Detained
Grand Island
5:54 PM Feb 8, 2007
Reporter: Sara Geake
Email Address: sara.geake@kolnkgin.com

Applications for help cover Dena Hawkes' desk nearly 2 months after immigration officials detained hundreds of Swift workers in Grand Island.

"Mostly it's rental assistance. Secondary would be the utilities bills," says Hawkes.

Central Nebraska Community Services has already helped more than 100 people.

"In the beginning you know, I might have 10 people in the waiting area where now it might be a couple people an hour," Hawkes says.

Others affected by the Swift raid are seeking answers at a local Spanish-speaking attorney's office.

"Our role in this has been more informational for the families, like telling them when they're hearings are going to happen and what's going on with their cases," says attorney Jon Placke.

About 1,300 workers nationwide were arrested at Swift plants.

Immigration officials say nearly half of them have been deported, leaving the other half to wait for criminal or immigration hearings.

Placke's firm could only help a few without traveling to Georgia--where many illegal immigrants have been detained.

"There were a few Omaha attorneys that actually went to Georgia and got bonds set for their clients. Then the government appealed those bonds and so the latest we've heard is that no one has been released yet. They've either been deported or are still in custody," he says.

Placke says the government rarely appeals bonds and this action show they're fighting hard against releasing the detained.

252 people were arrested in Grand Island in December.

26 of those people have been criminally prosecuted on various counts such as identity theft or document fraud.

so the latest we've heard is that no one has been released yet. They've either been deported or are still in custody," he says.

Why is it taking so long to deport these criminals?