Thread: Union lawsuit against ICE is in federal court Friday

Union lawsuit against ICE is in federal court Friday


Joanna Larez, (Bio) jlarez@greeleytribune.com
January 12, 2007

One month ago Friday, federal agents visited Greeley.

One month ago Friday, roughly 260 people were arrested during an immigration raid at Swift & Co. meat-packing plant in Greeley.

One month ago Friday, hundreds of people had new stories to tell.

Friday, witnesses will be ready to tell some of those stories if a federal judge in Denver is willing to listen.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials will appear in federal district court before Judge L. John Kane in a follow-up hearing to a lawsuit filed by the local union -- United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 -- about a month ago.

The union claims the raid was illegal and federal officials violated constitutional rights of those who were detained in the Dec. 12 raid. Another piece of the lawsuit says government employees treated the detainees inhumanely while they were in custody.

Part of the claim to illegal processes involves the 61 detainees who were taken to El Paso, Texas instead of remaining in Colorado for complete deportation processing. Some detainees claim they did not know what they were signing when they agreed to leave the country willingly. If they return, they could face felony charges, but they claim agents told them they would be allowed to return legally.

Dave Minshall, a union spokesman, said he doesn't know what to expect in the court hearing. It's all up to the judge and whether or not he wants to hear from the witnesses.

"We're hoping the judge will take a close look at the rules ICE operates by and if they abide by those rules and if those rules and their actions are legal," Minshall said. "We want to get what really happened at the raid on the table for the judge and everybody else to see."

Immigration agents executed the raid in six states at different Swift & Co. locations. The raids were part of an investigation that began in February 2006 after several reports of stolen identities were linked to the company.

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/2 ... /101120085

HERE YA GO----- START THOSE PHONE CALLS


Contact Information:


Greeley Office - 1006 9th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: (970) 304-9971 or (88 304-9971 Fax: (970) 304-9975

just got off the phone with greeley office and was given this number
303.424.2416, ext 402

Way to go James...Thanks!