Ore. plant raided after probe into illegal hiring

Associated Press - June 12, 2007 4:23 PM ET

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Federal agents have raided the offices of a food processing plant in Oregon that's suspected of employing hundreds of illegal workers.

According to an affidavit filed by a special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, only 48 of nearly 600 employees at the Fresh Del Monte Produce fruit and vegetable processing plant have valid Social Security numbers.

Authorities say workers used Social Security numbers that belonged to other people or were made up.

An official with the Department of Homeland Security says about 100 workers have been placed under administrative arrest to be processed for possible deportation.

Prosecutors say a federal grand jury has indicted three people on criminal charges, but the indictment remains under seal.

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