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Posted: Thursday, 01 June 2006 2:30PM

Some Arrested Immigrants Get More Time to Fight Deportation

Nancy Harty Reporting

CHICAGO (WBBM Newsradio 780) -- Some of the 26 immigrant workers of IFCO Systems arrested in Chicago have another four and a half months to argue why they should stay in the country.

WBBM Newsradio 780's Nancy Harty reports, at a hearing Thursday morning, Judge John Brahos granted a continuance until October 12 to roughly half of the group.

Another group received a two-month continuance from Judge Carlos Cuevas during an afternoon hearing.

On April 19, immigration officials conducted a raid in several states on offices of the packaging manufacturer after it ignored concerns about a number of employees using fake Social Security numbers.

Members of the Family Unity Campaign responded with joy to the court order.

Emma Lozano says families who have been living in fear of the potential deportations can now relax a bit.

The group plans to use the time to lobby members of Congress and President Bush for a moratorium on government raids and amnesty for the undocumented.

They believe if the Senate legalization bill passes, many of the IFCO workers will be allowed to remain in the U.S.

Flor Crisostomo is one of the IFCO employees. She has been on a hunger strike since Mother's Day to draw attention to her plight.

She was scheduled to make an announcement at 4 p.m. Thursday on whether she'll continue to fast.