Homeland Security inspector general to review immigration raid
January 18, 2008
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- Homeland Security has agreed to review an immigration raid at a New Bedford leather goods maker that immigrant advocates said caused a humanitarian crisis.

The Standard Times of New Bedford reports that the inspector general of Homeland Security will look into the March 2007 raid at Michael Bianco Inc.

Senator John Kerry requested the probe a few days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detained 361 illegal workers at Bianco.

Most of the detained workers were women with young children, and immigrant advocates criticized the agency for tearing families apart.

A spokeswoman for the agency says she's confident the review -- which is expected to take about eight months -- will find that the raid was handled appropriately.

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO71283/