Union Says Some 250 Workers Taken In Grand Island Raid
December 13, 2006
The raid on the Swift & Co. plant in Grand Island led to approximately 250 workers being detained, according to a spokesman for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
Federal agents raided company plants in six states Tuesday aimed at illegal immigrants who had used stolen identities to obtain work.
The Grand Island plant was operating Wednesday.
"Everybody has a job to do and I can't begrudge immigration officials for doing their job, but the way they do it tears families apart," said Daniel Hoppes, president of UFCW Local 22.
"It's designed to punish workers for working hard every day, contributing to the success of their companies and communities," Hoppes told the Grand Island Independent. "They are innocent victims in an immigration system that has been hijacked by corporations for the purpose of importing an exploitable work force."
Police in Grand Island refused to participate in the raid, the Associated Press reported. Police Chief Steve Lamken confirmed that he talked with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials before the raid.
Lamken reportedly told the ICE that local cops work with the Latino community and that he didn’t want participation in the raid to damage their working relationship.
To access full local coverage by the Grand Island Indepent - of the raids and their aftermath – click here.
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Previous story: Identity Theft Central To Raids
What about the raids, the way they were handled, and what the situation says about immigration policy and hiring practices?
Post your feedback on this topic here
| Date | Subject | Posted by: |
|---|---|---|
| 12/13/2006 | 250 workers from one shift, from one... | tom |
| 12/13/2006 | Gee, I wonder what illegals thought... | mickey |
| 12/13/2006 | G.I. Police Chief should be fired!... | Jesse |
| 12/14/2006 | Oh well, there's probably 250 waiting... | Nation |
| 12/15/2006 | How about a little perspective here?... | Deborah Yost |
| 12/15/2006 | Before you criticize the police... | Elisia |
| 12/15/2006 | You don't understand anything about... | afterfurtherreview |
| 12/15/2006 | That's pretty typical for union labor... | beeker |
| 12/15/2006 | It's amazing how heartless people in... | Average Guy |
| 12/15/2006 | I wouldn't be too hard on the police... | Terry |
| 12/15/2006 | Deborah and Elisia's posts give me... | Danny L Ladely |
| 12/16/2006 | I don't understand how else they... | Lois Douthit |
| 12/16/2006 | Federal agents raided company plants... | SA |
| 12/18/2006 | Danny Said: "Thank you very much,... | Deborah |
| 12/19/2006 | Deborah, I'm all for going after the... | SA |
