Seven Plead Guilty in Immigration Raid in Postville
By Becky Ogann


Story Updated: May 19, 2008

Agriprocessors, Inc. meatpacking plant workers leave the plant in Postville with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during a raid on Monday morning, May 12, 2008. (Photo by Liz Martin/The Gazette)

WATERLOO (AP) - Seven people charged in the immigration raid at a meatpacking plant in Postville have pleaded guilty and will be deported.

The men were charged with unlawful use of Social Security numbers. In a deal with the federal government, they pleaded guilty to false use of resident alien documents.

Federal Magistrate John Scoles says the men agreed to five years of probation, which will be served in their home countries. Each will be removed from the U.S. almost immediately. Scoles says those caught illegally in the country again will most likely face prison time.

Federal authorities raided the Agriprocessors plant on May 12th, detaining nearly 400 workers. Of those, 306 face criminal charges.

Plea hearings and conferences continue on Monday.
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