Immigration arrests top 300 at Iowa meat plant
CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. immigration agents arrested more than 300 people on Monday at Agriprocessors Inc, a kosher meat plant in Postville, Iowa, amid an ongoing investigation into identification theft, fraudulent use of Social Security numbers, and for illegal immigrants, Immigration officials said.
"This is the largest operation of this type ever in Iowa. Agents and officers from federal state, and local agencies are involved today," U.S. Attorney Matt Dummermuth said in a statement.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unit.
More than 40 of those arrested were later released on humanitarian grounds. Also, ICE established the toll-free number 1-866-341-3858 so that family members can call and get information regarding the custody status and detention location of those detained.
Agents began searching the plant in northeast Iowa at about 10 a.m. CDT (1500 GMT) and by Monday afternoon more than 300 had been arrested for "administrative immigration violations", according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement.
In its online edition the Des Moines Register newspaper, citing Iowa Workforce Development, reported the plant employs 1,000 to 1,050 people.
The Iowa Workforce Development website listed Agriprocessors as the state's seventh largest employer in 2006.
Agriprocessors Inc's website identifies it as a producer of kosher meat products. Telephone calls to Agriprocessors were not answered on Monday.
Immigration agents have raided meat companies in the past.
Finding suitable labor to staff meat plants has been an ongoing problem for the industry. A high percentage of those employed cutting up and packaging meat are immigrants, who are legally in the country.
In April, hundreds of workers were arrested at five Pilgrim's Pride Corp chicken plants in connection with an investigation in identity theft and other crimes.
In December 2006, hundreds of workers were detained during immigration raids at Swift & Co meat plants in six states, that temporarily shut down the plants. Beef and pork producer Swift was later sold to the Brazilian company JBS SA and is now JBS Swift & Co.
(Reporting by Bob Burgdorfer; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
