After immigration raid, military contracts key to factory's business

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. The New Bedford factory that lost more than half its work force in an immigration raid is battling to stay in business.

Federal agents rounded up 361 workers in a March sixth raid at Michael Bianco, and arrested the company's owner and three top managers.

Unlikely allies have come forward in support of the company because of what's at stake -- 91 (m) million dollars in an Army contract and hundreds of jobs.

New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang says he wants the military contracts kept in the city.

The mayor wants Bianco owner Francesco Insolia to step aside and the company put under receivership in a bid to persuade the Pentagon that federal dollars are being well spent.

About 400 people have applied for jobs since the raid. About 30 of them have been hired.


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The mayor wants Bianco owner Francesco Insolia to step aside and the company put under receivership
IMHO, Mr. Insolia should be in prison and any company with military contracts that is caught employing illegal aliens should be banned from ever doing business with the US government again. -- Jaded