Thread: Immigration Raid Nets Lumber Company Arrests

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Immigration Raid Nets Lumber Company Arrests

POSTED: 2:30 pm CST December 13, 2005
UPDATED: 2:43 pm CST December 13, 2005

MANSFIELD, Ark. -- Customs officers are investigating several workers suspected of illegally immigrating to the Hometown area.

Officials detained and then arrested 18 employees, who worked at the Travis Lumber Co. on Friday in Mansfield on suspicion of fraudulent identification cards.

A spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement said they'll run background checks on the suspects and handle each case individually.

In the meantime, some families are left waiting.

"Immigration would only tell me that he would be deported eventually, and I don't know anything else," said Michelle Strozier, a fiancee of one of the detainees.

"If the individual entered illegally, they can voluntarily be deported and if they want to apply for an immigration benefit, that's another process they can go through," said Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Temple Black.

Officials said Travis Lumber Company cooperated with the arrests and will not face penalties.

"If the individual entered illegally, they can voluntarily be deported and if they want to apply for an immigration benefit, that's another process they can go through," said Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Temple Black.

What exactly does this mean?