Nearly 100 people detained during ICE raid at meatpacking plant

Nearly 100 people detained during ICE raid at Tennessee meatpacking plant

by Adrian Mojica
Friday, April 6th 2018

http://static-18.sinclairstoryline.c...?1523036673360

The Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) is speaking out against a workplace raid that resulted in the arrest and detaining of nearly 100 people on Thursday. PHOTO: MGN


NASHVILLE, Tenn.--The Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) is speaking out against a workplace raid that resulted in the arrest and detaining of nearly 100 people on Thursday.

TIRRC says the raid took place at the Southeastern Provision meatpacking plant in Bean Station, which is just north of Knoxville.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Public Affairs Officer Tammy Spicer says the raid was executed as part of a federal search warrant.

"HSI encountered 97 individuals who are subject to removal from the United States. Ten of those encountered were arrested on federal criminal charges, one was arrested on state charges and 86 were arrested on administrative charges. Of the 86 administrative arrests placed in removal proceedings, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) placed 54 in detention and 32 were released from custody."

TIRRC says it is the "largest immigration workplace raid to date under the Trump administration" and workers reported "rough treatment and detention despite having work authorization."

TIRRC Co-Executive Director Stephanie Teatro criticized the raid, calling it an "attack."

“Our communities have lived under intense fear since the Trump administration began, and this raid – coupled with local law enforcement involvement – will send shockwaves across the country.

The community has shown tremendous strength in the face of this brazen attack on its members: Churches have become sanctuaries for those who feel unsafe, community leaders are speaking out against the attack, and we will continue to fight for basic, Constitutional rights for all. No one – not even the president – can take those away,” Teatro says.

The raid comes just one day after President Trump called on the National Guard to send troops to the U.S. border to serve as a deterrent for illegal immigration.

http://kfoxtv.com/news/nation-world/...tpacking-plant

ICE raids meatpacking plant in rural Tennessee, more than 95 immigrants arrested

By Maria Sacchetti April 6 at 1:27 PM Email the author

Federal officials arrested 97 immigrants at a meat-processing plant in rural Tennessee late Thursday in what civil rights organizations said was the largest single workplace raid in a decade and a sign that the Trump administration is carrying out its plan to aggressively ramp up enforcement this year.

Ten people were arrested on federal criminal charges, one person was arrested on state charges and 86 immigrants were detained for being in the country illegally, Tammy Spicer, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in a statement Friday. All of those arrested were in the country illegally, she said. Most were from Mexico.

The raid on Southeastern Provision in Grainger County, Tenn., follows arrests at 7-Eleven stores and other workplaces nationwide. Last year, the nation’s top immigration official said he had ordered agents to increase the number of work-site inspections and operations by “four or five times” this year, to turn off the job “magnets” that attract immigrants who are in the country illegally and punish employers who hire them.

The National Immigration Law Center and other immigrant advocates said the Tennessee raid was the largest since the George W. Bush administration and deployed many of the tactics of that era, with a surprise blitz of the factory, a helicopter and streets blocked by state and local authorities.

ICE officials would not say where the raid ranked in terms of size.

“People are panicked,” said Stephanie Teatro, co-executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, a statewide organization that came to the small town and set up intake centers where relatives could report their loved ones missing. “People are terrified to drive. People are terrified to leave their homes.”ICE said its Homeland Security Investigations arm executed a federal criminal search warrant at Southeastern Provision on Thursday, in a joint operation with the Internal Revenue Service and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Of the 86 immigrants arrested on civil immigration charges, ICE released 32 but did not explain why. The remaining 54 were being detained, but the agency did not provide their names or say where they were being held.

Last year, ICE acting director Thomas Homan said the agency planned to “significantly” increase work site operations, but he said he’d do it differently from the Obama administration.

“Now we’re going to prosecute the employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens,” he said last year. “We’re going to detain and remove the illegal alien workers.”

Since President Trump took office, immigration arrests have risen more than 40 percent and deportations from the interior of the United States have spiked 34 percent.

In January, ICE fanned out to 7-Eleven stores in the District and 17 states, including California, Maryland, Michigan, and New York. ICE arrived at 98 7-Eleven stores to interview employees and deliver audit notifications. Agents made 21 arrests. At the time, agency officials said it was the largest operation targeting an employer since President Trump took office.

ICE conducted 1,360 employee audits last year, and arrested more than 300 people for criminal and civil immigration violations. Businesses were ordered to pay $97.6 million in judicial forfeiture, fines and restitution, and $7.8 million in civil fines, the agency said.Immigration hawks have called on the administration to step up work site enforcement and to require all employers to use the E-Verify system, which checks workers’ legal status. They say the Trump administration’s focus on border security won’t block illegal immigration if immigrants can continue to find jobs in the United States.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local...=.6f85d1e06db1

This is good news, however, why were 32 of the illegals arrested on immigration charges released? Hmm, could it be more of the old catch & release game?

ICE carries out largest workplace raid in a decade

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MW

This is good news, however, why were 32 of the illegals arrested on immigration charges released? Hmm, could it be more of the old catch & release game?

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The article didn't say they were all illegals, they were all immigrants. Maybe those 32 had documents, visas, green cards, DACA, TPS, etc.

"HSI encountered 97 individuals who are subject to removal from the United States.

Ten of those encountered were arrested on federal criminal charges,

one was arrested on state charges and

86 were arrested on administrative charges.

Of the 86 administrative arrests placed in removal proceedings, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) placed 54 in detention and 32 were released from custody."
========================

"HSI encountered 97 individuals who are subject to removal from the United States. Ten of those encountered were arrested on federal criminal charges, one was arrested on state charges and 86 were arrested on administrative charges. Of the 86 administrative arrests placed in removal proceedings, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) placed 54 in detention and 32 were released from custody."

"86 immigrants were detained for being in the country illegally"

“Now we’re going to prosecute the employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens,” he said last year. “We’re going to detain and remove the illegal alien workers.”

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IMMEDIATE DEPORTATION AND FINE THE HELL OUT OF THE EMPLOYER!!! MAKE THE EMPLOYER PAY THE COST OF DEPORTATION!

THESE ILLEGAL ALIENS NEED TO SELL OUT, PACK UP AND GET OUT...NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

WE MEAN BUSINESS!!!

ICE should explain why they released the 32. Otherwise they'll be accused of "Catch and Release".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MW

This is good news, however, why were 32 of the illegals arrested on immigration charges released? Hmm, could it be more of the old catch & release game?

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"those released Thursday night either had legal status to reside in the U.S. or young children to take care of."

FROM:Affidavit details alleged worker exploitation, taxfraud at Grainger Co. plant

@ ICE carries out largest workplace raid in a decade

Children are no excuse. Americans don't get released from jail because they've got "young children at home to take care of". They send in Social Services or put them with family. Who takes care of them when these people are at work? Don't be conned with kids, ICE. Stop falling for that BS. Get them all out of here, go to their homes and round 'em all up. ALL OF "EM. Be a dragnet. That's your jobs!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Beezer

"86 immigrants were detained for being in the country illegally"

“Now we’re going to prosecute the employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens,” he said last year. “We’re going to detain and remove the illegal alien workers.”

---------------------

IMMEDIATE DEPORTATION AND FINE THE HELL OUT OF THE EMPLOYER!!! MAKE THE EMPLOYER PAY THE COST OF DEPORTATION!

THESE ILLEGAL ALIENS NEED TO SELL OUT, PACK UP AND GET OUT...NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

WE MEAN BUSINESS!!!

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Sounds like the employers will have a host of federal charges to contend with.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

"those released Thursday night either had legal status to reside in the U.S. or young children to take care of."

FROM:Affidavit details alleged worker exploitation, taxfraud at Grainger Co. plant

@ ICE carries out largest workplace raid in a decade

---

Having young children to take care of is not a reason for catch & release! I'm betting there is no formal law that covers this, which means it is policy. Policy can be changed with the stroke of a pen! Get on that immediately, Ms. DHS!

I want these illegal workers to have a host of federal charges to contend with, all of 'em, and their at home with the kids buddies, and all their relatives working at other plants illegally. DRAGNET, ICE!! If Mueller can go on a fishing expedition, so can you! GO GET THEM AND GET THEM OUT OF HERE with a deck of charge so high they'll never be able to come back.

"Being released doesn't mean someone is in the clear. Lopez and many others have court dates scheduled in about a month. The highest punishment is deportation."

Released ICE detainee recalls Grainger County raid

So DOJ released them until their court date. Way to go, DOJ! Let us know how many show up.

"In 2017, Tennessee required all public and private employers with more than 6 employees to either use E-Verify or check and retain acceptable work authorization documents. But, as of January 2018, law SB 1965 went into effect, now only requiring mandatory E-Verify use for all employers with 50 or more employees."

https://www.numbersusa.com/news/ice-...tpacking-plant