Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Latest big immigration raid hits S.C. chicken plant

The House of Raeford Farms plant in Greenville, S.C., was the site of the latest in a string of federal raids aimed at detaining and deporting undocumented workers. Ames Alexander of The Charlotte Observer writes "authorities determined that 777 of 825 workers at the plant had apparently submitted false documents to get their jobs."

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been investigating hiring practices of the company for some time. "Over the summer, ICE arrested 11 plant supervisors at their homes and charged them with immigration violations," writes Alexander. "Current and former supervisors told the Observer that some House of Raeford managers knew they employed illegal immigrants. They said the plant prefers undocumented workers because they are less likely to question working conditions for fear of losing their jobs or being deported."

ICE officials said they would continue their investigation "to determine who allowed illegal immigrants to work at the plant, known locally as Columbia Farms," adds Alexander. "Investigating the employers, they said, is as large a priority as identifying illegal workers." (Read more)

The immigration raid in South Carolina is the latest of several in recent months. To see other stories on illegal worker raids click the following links about raids in Mississippi and Iowa.

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