September 22, 2007
Crapo, Sali: Raids point to need for immigration reform

Federal raids seeking undocumented workers in Sun Valley are one more example of the need for immigration reform, two members of the Idaho congressional delegation said Friday.
Federal agents went through the Sun Valley area last weekend and arrested about 21 people.

Members of at least one family said they were terrified by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who went to their house in the predawn hours accompanied by Blaine County sheriff's deputies.

A program for guest workers in the United States would reduce the need for such raids, said a spokesman for Republican Sen. Mike Crapo.

"The best way is not to go in and scare people and cause the kind of anxiety with workers and the farm community," Lindsay Nothern said.

ICE did not return calls seeking comment Thursday or Friday.

Crapo is backing a proposal that would provide people coming into this country with identifications that employers could recognize as valid.

Republican Rep. Bill Sali is working to secure U.S. borders without granting amnesty to illegal immigrants already in the country, spokesman Wayne Hoffman said.

Sali "believes there is a way you can get there," Hoffman said, but declined to give details.

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and his staff declined to speak with the Idaho Statesman. Republican Rep. Mike Simpson couldn't be reached for comment. Gov. Butch Otter has not been briefed on the raids, a spokesman said.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho is investigating the complaints to see if civil rights were violated.

Testimonies indicated that Immigration and Customs went into houses looking for people who didn't live there and then arrested the people in the home who couldn't furnish proof of their immigration status. Raids began about 6 p.m. last Saturday in Bellevue, Hailey and Ketchum, Blaine County sheriff's deputies said.

Bill Roberts: 377-6408

September 22, 2007
Crapo, Sali: Raids point to need for immigration reform
Federal raids seeking undocumented workers in Sun Valley are one more example of the need for immigration reform, two members of the Idaho congressional delegation said Friday.
Federal agents went through the Sun Valley area last weekend and arrested about 21 people.

Members of at least one family said they were terrified by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who went to their house in the predawn hours accompanied by Blaine County sheriff's deputies.

A program for guest workers in the United States would reduce the need for such raids, said a spokesman for Republican Sen. Mike Crapo.

"The best way is not to go in and scare people and cause the kind of anxiety with workers and the farm community," Lindsay Nothern said.

ICE did not return calls seeking comment Thursday or Friday.

Crapo is backing a proposal that would provide people coming into this country with identifications that employers could recognize as valid.

Republican Rep. Bill Sali is working to secure U.S. borders without granting amnesty to illegal immigrants already in the country, spokesman Wayne Hoffman said.

Sali "believes there is a way you can get there," Hoffman said, but declined to give details.

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and his staff declined to speak with the Idaho Statesman. Republican Rep. Mike Simpson couldn't be reached for comment. Gov. Butch Otter has not been briefed on the raids, a spokesman said.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho is investigating the complaints to see if civil rights were violated.

Testimonies indicated that Immigration and Customs went into houses looking for people who didn't live there and then arrested the people in the home who couldn't furnish proof of their immigration status. Raids began about 6 p.m. last Saturday in Bellevue, Hailey and Ketchum, Blaine County sheriff's deputies said.

Bill Roberts: 377-6408
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