No date but believe it is October 25, 2007
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12 illegal immigrants taken into custody after being fired at Durrett Cheese Sales


Twelve persons working at Durrett Cheese Sales in Manchester were taken into custody by immigration officials Wednesday after being charged with criminal trespassing Monday.

Coffee County Sheriff’s Lt. Donnie Thomas said the 12 persons — three men and nine women — were employed at Durrett Cheese Sales, which has operated as a processing facility and retail store at 188 Volunteer Court in Manchester since June 2000.

Thomas said the 12 individuals were expecting their paychecks and when they did not receive them they refused to leave and also refused to work, he said.

All of them were fired, he said, and then county authorities arrived and charged each of the 12 with criminal trespassing. They were transported to the Coffee County Jail for booking at 11 a.m. Monday.

Sheriff Steve Graves said it was determined at the jail that the 12 were all illegal aliens. An immigration official who was called removed them from the jail Wednesday, he said.

It will be up to the immigration department if any action is to be taken against Durrett Cheese Sales, Graves added.

An official at the plant declined comment to The News.


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