Thread: Undocumented meatpackers fear raids

Undocumented meatpackers fear raids
By ROXANA HEGEMAN, Associated Press Writer
Sat Apr 14, 12:30 AM ET



DODGE CITY, Kan. - Frightened by raids last year at six Swift & Co. plants, illegal immigrants in the nation's meatpacking towns are preparing for their possible arrest.

For years, immigrant rights groups had been confident the meatpacking giants were so powerful immigration agents would never raid them. But since the Dec. 12 sweeps at Swift plants in six states, immigrant advocacy groups have been holding workshops, teaching undocumented workers how to prepare for their arrests by doing such things as drawing up legal documents so someone could care for their children and handle their financial affairs.

In addition, the United Food and Commercial Workers union has printed a bilingual immigration rights kit it plans to distribute nationwide to workers in the coming weeks. The kit includes practical information, legal documents and sample letters.

"We want to make sure they (immigration officials) don't take advantage of our people," said Martin Rosas, secretary-treasurer for UFCW in Dodge City.

Among those making preparations since attending a workshop is the family of a 43-year-old man who works under a false identity at the National Beef plant in Liberal. Two of his four children, ranging in ages from 4 to 18, were born in the United States, where he's lived on an off for 21 years.

His wife, a 39-year-old illegal immigrant, asked not to be identified for fear the family would be arrested. The family is writing documents so her brother, a legal resident, would have custody of the children if the parents are deported. They have put their few possessions in another person's name and are trying to save what little money they can.

"It is the expected response of people that are terrified, that have to keep working in order to live," said James Austin, a Kansas City, Mo., immigration attorney who has taught at such workshops in Kansas.

Ed Hayes, Kansas director of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, an anti-illegal immigration group, said he was dismayed by those who are helping illegal immigrants.

"Those people ought to be arrested because they are helping people break the law," Hayes said. "We have churches that are aiding and abetting people breaking the law. We have chambers of commerce who want them to do it, politicians who want them to do it. What happened to our nation of laws?"

Immigration informational meetings are not new, Austin said, but only recently have organizers begun distributing and discussing power of attorney documents at them. He said that's a direct response by Hispanic advocacy agencies to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, including last year's arrests of 1,282 Swift workers at plants in Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Iowa and Minnesota.

"I don't know what else to do, other than have people prepare as much as they can in case that happens here," said the Rev. John Fahey of St. Anthony Catholic Church in the southwestern Kansas town of Liberal, where a recent workshop drew 250 workers from meatpacking plants in southwest Kansas.

The Hispanic advocacy group Hispanos Unidos of Liberal and United Methodist Mexican American Ministries helped organize the meeting, said Arturo Ponce, a former meatpacking plant worker who helped found Hispanos Unidos of Liberal.

Immigrant families are also being urged to set up a savings accounts with $3,000 to $10,000 per family to pay bail bonds and other costs.

"They are putting aside a little money as often as they can for such a situation," Ponce said. "It is a heavy burden, but it is realistic."

Other legal advice included warnings not to sign a voluntary deportation form and to demand an immigration attorney, Ponce said.

Rosas said UFCW's bilingual kit will explain workers' rights and offer practical advice for dealing with immigration problems. Among the documents in the kit are sample letters immigrants can use to better respond to the federal government's inquiries about problems with Social Security numbers.

"There is always the same fear now — everywhere you go," said Rosas.

The detailed extent of family preparations by undocumented workers surprised officials at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as the meatpacking industry's trade group, the American Meat Institute. Both groups told The Associated Press they were unaware of them.

"I haven't heard of any companies actively trying to prepare workers, because if a company knows they are undocumented they are not supposed to be hiring them anyway," Austin said.

Employers can face charges if they knowingly hire illegal workers.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson noted that about half of immigration-related cases in Kansas — which has massive slaughterhouses in Dodge City, Liberal, Garden City and Emporia_ are associated with the food-processing industry. Anderson said the "hot area now" in the state for identity theft is in Cowley County, where Creekstone Farms Premium Beef opened a plant in 2003. He said illegal immigrants sometimes steal identities to get past the government's "Basic Pilot" program, which screens Social Security numbers to make sure they're real and that they match up with the person's name.

Don Stull, a University of Kansas anthropology professor and industry expert, said it's estimated about 25 percent of people working at the nation's meatpacking plants are in the country illegally. In the Swift raids, about 10 percent of the company's work force was arrested.

The industry says it is doing everything it can to make sure it does not hire illegal immigrants.

"Hiring illegal workers just doesn't make good business sense. Employee turnover is very disruptive," said Dave Ray, spokesman for the American Meat Institute.

Ray noted the meatpacking industry was a pioneer in the early use of Basic Pilot, which he called a valuable, but not foolproof, tool.

At the National Beef plant in Dodge City, general manager Carey Hoskinson said if he could convey any message to his employees it would be not to worry about a raid. He noted his company uses government identity verification programs as well as its own internal personnel audits.

"I don't think ICE has its crosshairs on us," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070414/ap_ ... kers__fear

"We want to make sure they (immigration officials) don't take advantage of our people," said Martin Rosas, secretary-treasurer for UFCW in Dodge City.

What does she mean, "take advantage"? Since when is enforcing our laws taking advantage of criminals?

In addition, the United Food and Commercial Workers union has printed a bilingual immigration rights kit it plans to distribute nationwide to workers in the coming weeks. The kit includes practical information, legal documents and sample letters.


I must be naive. I thought the purpose of the unions was to protect American workers. Why would a union want to help illegals who are taking American jobs and driving down wages. Aren't unions always striking for better wages and benefits?

Is there anyone out there that will stand for the American worker?

We can't count on (most of) our elected officials.
We can't count on local mayors and police.
We can't count on the ACLU
We can't count on the unions
We can't count on even the churches
We can't count on the majority of the media
We certainly can't count on coporations.

Is there anyone out there that cares about Americans first???????

Originally Posted by ProudAmericanFamily

In addition, the United Food and Commercial Workers union has printed a bilingual immigration rights kit it plans to distribute nationwide to workers in the coming weeks. The kit includes practical information, legal documents and sample letters.


I must be naive. I thought the purpose of the unions was to protect American workers. Why would a union want to help illegals who are taking American jobs and driving down wages. Aren't unions always striking for better wages and benefits?

Is there anyone out there that will stand for the American worker?

We can't count on (most of) our elected officials.
We can't count on local mayors and police.
We can't count on the ACLU
We can't count on the unions
We can't count on even the churches
We can't count on the majority of the media
We certainly can't count on coporations.

Is there anyone out there that cares about Americans first???????

Yeah. Us, and those who think, breath, and live like us.

[quote="Charlesoakisland"]








Immigrant families are also being urged to set up a savings accounts with $3,000 to $10,000 per family to pay bail bonds and other costs.

"They are putting aside a little money as often as they can for such a situation," Ponce said. "It is a heavy burden, but it is realistic."

Other legal advice included warnings not to sign a voluntary deportation form and to demand an immigration attorney, Ponce said.

Demand an immigration attorney? If they have that kind of cash for bail, shouldn't they have to pay (and use their one phone call to contact) an attorney themselves? I thought if I needed a public defender I would just get whoever was available. I didn't know I could demand an attorney that specialized. My friend's uncle was busted for DUI and he was given the services of a terrible, overburdened attorney who just told him to plead guilty. He could have demanded an attorney who specializes in DUI? Hmmm.

With what I earn, I can't even afford an attourney, let alone save for one.

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THE SOONER THE RAIDS happen, the better.

let em sign deport papers. the sooner this illegal trash is gone the better

I just joined your website today, after seeing the link of this story on SOS. Thank you for this info, it couldn't have been timed better! I live in one of the states where ICE raided a Swift meat packing plant last winter.

Last week I got a phone call from a young hispanic couple in their mid 20s, whose mother married a friend of ours a couple years ago. This young couple wanted us to write a letter of 'character' they said they wanted to give their lawyer. They said it was to get a green card. They said they had work permits but they were expiring. We refused to do it, because we have no idea of their legal status.

There are many red flags about this mother and her 3 grown children. They claim they file taxes; which I recently found out they can do, even if they are illegal. They all work in meat packing houses around the area. They also claim they have social security cards, which is what I am wondering about. Can they legally get SS cards with just work permits?

What I am trying to find out is if this bunch are all illegal, or if they are doing things the right way. It is very hard for me to judge. They can TELL us anything they want to. It sounds to me as if our government is making it very easy for illegals to stay. I am also wondering if the mother is legal now, thru her marriage to our friend? She can only speak a few words of English, even after they claim they have been in the states for 12 years!

I have been researching and asking advice from others who are more knowledgeable then we are. If I can prove they are here illegally, I will not hesitate to call ICE. We do not want our friend taken advantage of, and it seems illegals are duping Americans and using them for their own agenda everyday! I do not want to jump to conclusions, but I want to do the right thing if they are here illegally.

So if you could help with advice or steer me in the right direction to get to the bottom of this, I would be most appreciative. This article got me thinking that the packing houses where they work, are helping them get around the law. After about 3or 4 years living and working here, all of a sudden this young couple seems very eager to move on with the process. Very suspect to me.

Thank you.

OldRebel,

If you find any evidence of wrongdoing, there are lots of law enforcement resources in our ALIPAC Action Panel found on the top blue tool bar.

The only way you are going to be able to find anything out is to ask them directly or to interview some of the associated friends or family members to try and determine their status.

W