[ShawnO]

From WYFF-TV Channel 4 in Greenville, South Carolina (video included):

http://www.wyff4.com/news/17641906/detail.html

Quote:

Federal immigration agents are executing a criminal search warrant Tuesday at the Columbia Farms poultry processing plant on Rutherford Road in Greenville County. More than 300 people suspected of being illegal immigrants have been detained, agents said. The raid by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is part of ICE's ongoing 10-month investigation into unauthorized employment of workers at the plant. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin McDonald said the raid began shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday during a shift change at the plant. Federal prosecutors and immigration agents have been investigating the plant's hiring practices. McDonald says a recent review of immigration paperwork of 825 workers showed more than 775 contained false information. South Carolina U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins and ICE have called a news conference for Tuesday afternoon in downtown Greenville. Wilkins said that there are between 400 and 450 ICE agents involved in the raid, but not all are at the site. "We're here to enforce the laws of the United States against those who use identification documents to unlawfully obtain jobs as well as those employers who knowingly hire and harbor undocumented aliens," Wilkins said. "That's what we're doing here." In July, seven workers at the plant were arrested and pleaded not guilty to using fake Social Security numbers and counterfeit documents to break immigration laws. Prosecutors said the seven were among a group of employees who tried to skirt immigration laws by using invalid alien registration and Social Security numbers, or listed other individuals' numbers as their own. Bail was denied after authorities said the workers were in the U.S. illegally. "When you have an operation this size and a plant this size we need to be sure we are fully interviewing the individuals we encounter," ICE public affairs officer Richard Rocha said. "From here the individuals will be processed at another site and then taken into ICE custody." The Greenville County plant is operated by Raeford Farms subsidiary Columbia Farms. Workers at the plant process the poultry to get it ready for sale in stores. A woman answering the phone at the company's Rose Hill, N.C., headquarters said there was no immediate comment. On-Going Effort Tuesday’s raid is the latest in a string of federal actions in recent years targeting illegal workers at poultry and meat-processing facilities across the nation. About 300 people were arrested in a raid at a Pilgrim's Pride poultry plant in Texas in April. In May, federal agents raided a Agriprocessors, Inc. meat plant in Postville, Iowa, in one of the largest single-site immigration busts in U.S. history. Authorities detained 389 illegal immigrant workers and processed them through mass court hearings in Waterloo. In another massive operation in December 2006, federal authorities detained more than 1,300 people in six states during raids at Swift meat-packing plants. ICE officials say the workplace investigations and subsequent raids are part of a broad program to combat illegal immigration and fraud. But some civil rights advocates have called the detentions unconstitutional. And some community leaders in small meatpacking towns have complained that the raids have disrupted schools, local economies and community life.

[GrayGhost]

Thanks for the posting Shawn. I have no issues with ANYone who is legal in the country getting a chance. Illegal immigrants. no dice. Sorry.

[Superstar Steve]

I think we should take their property, smash up their homes, and make them wear yellow stars on their clothing so we can identify them.

[GrayGhost]

Well, no, I caught the sarcasm. Just have them get a green card and be legal. I know its not an easy process, but really, it's the best way. Im not for beating people up, etc, just for hoping they can follow the regulations we all live by in the US.

[GA Holsome]

GrayGhost wrote:

Im not for beating people up, etc

how about breaking their chairs and throwing notebooks at them? are you for that?

[GrayGhost]

GA Holsome wrote:

GrayGhost wrote: Im not for beating people up, etc how about breaking their chairs and throwing notebooks at them? are you for that?

nope. oh, BTW, there was a notebook slam at PGW too. If you guys don't know by now, that Im doing this just as a joke, you are sadly misinformed.

Anyways, I hope anyone that comes to the USA and tries to make a life for their family gets the opportunity to do so. Its simple, just do it within the law.

[MAV]

Superstar Steve wrote:

I think we should take their property, smash up their homes, and make them wear yellow stars on their clothing so we can identify them.

A simple numeric tatoo system for filing purposes and some form of internment camp would be far more efficient.

[The Franchise]

hello 1940's Japanese-Americans,oh wait those were citizens.

[FRW Fall Guy]

The Franchise wrote:

hello 1940's Japanese-Americans,oh wait those were citizens.

I was actually (sarcastically) expanding on Steve's Nazi Germany reference.

I always have such mixed feelings on the illegal alien problem. My basic attitude at this point is that they shouldn't be here...but we've been letting them in pretty much unhindered for years, making deportation pretty much unfeasible. That leaves some sort of amnesty program the only realistic avenue. Much like the bailout plan, the current election and just about everything else in life however...amnesty is pretty much a shit sandwich in favor of a feces smorgasbord.