Thread: NC: Immigration Officials Arrest 21 at Smithfield

http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/1178286/

Immigration Officials Arrest 21 at Smithfield Slaughterhouse

By ERIN GARTNER

Posted: Jan. 24 10:29 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 24 11:39 p.m.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Almost two dozen workers were arrested by immigration officers Wednesday at the country's largest hog slaughterhouse, where about 1,000 mostly Hispanic workers walked off the job recently to protest firings of immigrant workers.

The 21 individuals, whose names and ages weren't released, were escorted from their jobs at the Smithfield Foods Inc. plant to an upstairs conference room, where they were interviewed by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Smithfield spokesman Dennis Pittman said.

The workers were arrested on administrative immigration charges, which can include being in the country illegally or overstaying a work visa, ICE spokeswoman Jamie Zuieback said. Zuieback said she didn't know the specific charges against the Smithfield workers, whom Pittman said had worked at the plant from one to eight years.

"It was done very quietly, very professionally. It probably went as well as anything of this nature can go," Pittman said, adding that ICE agents notified the company Tuesday about the impending visit. "When you get a phone call, and they say 'we're coming,' it's not up for discussion."

About 5,000 employees process up to 32,000 hogs daily at the plant in Tar Heel, a small town about 85 miles southeast of Raleigh.

In November, about 1,000 workers staged a walkout after Smithfield fired 50 or so people in a crackdown on undocumented workers. The employees, most of whom were Hispanic, said they were upset with the company's decision to gather the names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and gender of workers at the plant.

The company reviewed its employment records on the advice of ICE, which had raided a Smithfield plant in Virginia and arrested several undocumented workers. The company found about 500 to 600 workers at the North Carolina plant who had unverifiable information, and about 50 of them were fired for providing false information.

Employees returned to work two days later after Smithfield officials agreed to give the identified workers 60 days to get their identification documents in order.

Pittman said about half of the workers arrested Wednesday had been identified by the company as having unverifiable identification information. Zuieback said the arrests were made based on information "that came out as a result" of Smithfield reviewing its records, but she was careful not to say the arrests were a direct result of information turned over by the company.

"I think this is a big coincidence, a couple of months after workers started taking more active roles in the organizing efforts," said Eduardo Pena, a local organizer with the United Food and Commercial Workers.

The union, which has been trying to unionize the plant for more than a decade, didn't organize the November walkout but quickly backed the workers. The union helped spark a small walkout on Martin Luther King Jr. Day after plant officials declined to designate it as a paid holiday.

Pena said Wednesday's arrests were an intimidation tactic.

"When immigrant workers take a stand, Smithfield and the government enter into an agreement to arrest and intimidate immigrant workers," Pena said. "What does that do to the worker?"

Pittman brushed off the claim as another attempt by the union to generate interest in its organizing efforts.

"It's the same story," he said.

Mr. Pena should have said:

When illegal immigrant workers take a stand, Smithfield and the government enter into an agreement to arrest and intimidate illegal immigrant workers.

"What does that do to the worker?"

Hopefully it'll get rid of all the illegal aliens who are depressing wages at Smithfield.

"It's the same story," he said.

And let's hope they keep at it until they get it right.

Originally Posted by had_enuf

http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/1178286/

Immigration Officials Arrest 21 at Smithfield Slaughterhouse

"When immigrant workers take a stand, Smithfield and the government enter into an agreement to arrest and intimidate immigrant workers," Pena said. "What does that do to the worker?"

Pittman brushed off the claim as another attempt by the union to generate interest in its organizing efforts.

"It's the same story," he said.

First of all we are not talking about "immigrant workers" these are "illegal immigrant" workers and they have no business taking a stand in this country when they are here illegally. Second they should EXPECT to be arrested and not be surprised to feel intimidated.

To answer Pena's question: Hopefully what it does to the worker is get them deported!

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"It was done very quietly, very professionally. It probably went as well as anything of this nature can go," Pittman said, adding that ICE agents notified the company Tuesday about the impending visit. "When you get a phone call, and they say 'we're coming,' it's not up for discussion."

I just LOVE that line!!!! Makes me grin every time I read it.

As I recall, they got a phone call before the last raid as well.

Originally Posted by JadedBaztard

"It was done very quietly, very professionally. It probably went as well as anything of this nature can go," Pittman said, adding that ICE agents notified the company Tuesday about the impending visit. "When you get a phone call, and they say 'we're coming,' it's not up for discussion."

I just LOVE that line!!!! Makes me grin every time I read it.

No need to Press one for English on that call

I work for a large industrial manufacturer that hires mostly asians, hispanics, etc. for production. In a conversation with one of the line workers I was told that there are at least a few illegal workers here but their paperwork is apparently very good. The mexican person that told me this is herself an anchor baby (mid 20s). I asked her if she considered herself to be a mexican or an american. She immediately replied "MEXICAN"! I then told her in a matter of fact tone that she is not an AMERICAN. She gave me a puzzled look and asked what I meant by that. THEY JUST DON'T AND WON'T GET IT!!

I am SO tempted to get myself a T-shirt made up that says in very small letters "I support" at the top and right below it in huge letters "I.C.E.", just to see the looks on the faces of these workers. Many of the hispanics wear mexican pride shirts, hats, etc. at work on the line and it irritates me to no end. Funny thing is I have yet to see one of the vietnamese or indian workers wearing any pride garb.

FINALLY


ITS ABOUT TIME

woohoooooo GO ICE GO

The company reviewed its employment records on the advice of ICE, which had raided a Smithfield plant in Virginia and arrested several undocumented workers. The company found about 500 to 600 workers at the North Carolina plant who had unverifiable information, and about 50 of them were fired for providing false information.

Hmmm.........what kind of game is being played now? How do you go from "500-600 workers at the North Carolina plant who had unverifiable information" to only 21 arrest. Are they trying to tell us that almost 500 of those folks originally identified as having no verifiable information now have it? I don't think so!!!

IMHO, ICE is bowing under pressure and is lessening what I thought was becoming a more pro-active position on enforcement against illegal immigrants and the companies that hired them. Trust me, the plant has more than 21 illegal immigrants working there. Seems Smithfield was only prepared to give up 21 illegals. ICE should not take Smithfield's word on how many illegals they have - they should be raiding the plant and rounding up ALL illegals!