April 16, 2008, 7:06AM
Immigration raid nets almost 30 arrests at Houston Shipley Do-Nut plant
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5704822.html
By JIM PINKERTON
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle


Federal agents are at a large Shipley Do-Nuts facility on Houston's north side, where they have arrested almost 30 workers suspected of being illegal immigrants.

Agents from the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement executed a search warrant about 5 a.m. at the Shipley manufacturing process center in the 5200 block of North Main.

Harris County sheriff's deputies are assisting in the raid.

"It's a worksite enforcement operation," said Robert Rutt, agent in charge of the ICE office in Houston.

He said the number of suspected undocumented workers arrested at the complex is "in the high 20s," including some who lived at the facility.

The center, a four-block compound where dough is processed for use in Shipley's local shops, includes a residential facility for workers.

This morning's raid appears to be the largest ICE operation in Houston this year.

jim.pinkerton@chron.com