About 300 Suspected Illegal Workers Arrested in Greenville Raid
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Search Warrants Served at Greenville Poultry Plant...
The U.S. Attorney says federal search warrants and enforcement operations were carried out at Columbia Farms Poultry Processing in Greenville
After 450 federal agents served search warrants and carried out enforcement operations at a Greenville business, about 300 people were arrested and accused of being illegal immigrants.
It’s believed as many as 500 workers are being detained outside Columbia Farms Poultry Processing on Rutherford Road in Greenville. Agents surrounded the plant and started the raid around 8:50am.
According to the Associated Press, A prosecutor says the vast majority of the 825 people who work at the Columbia Farms plant have questionable immigration papers. About 300 people were arrested in today’s action.
U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins tells News Channel 7’s Kristen Nastasia Tuesday’s bust is large for South Carolina, at a level never seen here in the past. Representatives of Immigration and Customs Enforcement from Washington, DC are at the scene. ICE said this was the biggest workforce enforcement raid in the history of South Carolina or North Carolina.
“The majority of them will be administratively processed and deported,“ said Wilkins this morning. “Those deemed worthy of criminal prosecution, our office will handle. And we will treat them as we would any other criminal case.“
Wilkins says Tuesday’s bust is the end of a ten month investigation into Columbia Farms employment practices.
This same plant was raided earlier this year by ICE. Seven people have already pleaded guilty to using falsified work documents.
Wilkins and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent in Charge of Investigations Kenneth A. Smith will brief the media this afternoon.
Air 7 video shows hundreds of people outside the plant. We’re told this is a mix of workers, agents and some people waiting to be interviewed by ICE.
Relatives of those detained today can call the following number to find out the status of their loved one or express other humanitarian concerns: 866-341-3858.
—Reporting by Kristen Nastasia
News Channel 7 will update this story tonight starting at 5:00 and here at wspa.com
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Reader Reactions
I’m also a college grad. Own my own house, land, and car. But how does it feel to be judged. You called me STUPID. How was I suppose to know my Fiance was illegal when I got with him? I don’t have my own everify system. When I did find out he was it was to late I was in love and we had a daughter togather. Thats what upset me you judged me so I give you a taste of your own medicine. Sorry didn’t mean to offend anyone. Didn’t really want to get in this post to fight. But your words were cut throat.
This is probably why the Federal Gov is doing NOTHING about Immigration and Why we aren’t hearing about it this election year…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T74VA3xU0EA
This is a link to wikipedia Read this!!!!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Union
This is a link to a story on CNN it is very informative.!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T74VA3xU0EA
Council of Forign Relations
http://www.cfr.org/
If all this is true, then who is in charge? 3 Presidents? 1 President? I dunno but with everything going on in this country right now it just seems fishy..
well miss angelia it might be to your surprise i do work a ft job and i am a college grd…and i make alot of money and own a house a new car i am so sorry to say i think you need to go back to school you can not read english too well i said nothing racist against any one and if you back and read if you can everything that i have written you mat learn something that is if can can honestly read so please do not bash me since you do not know a thing…...
Sorry Anne It’s is IGNORANT RACIST people like you that judge others not knowing there situation that PISSES me off. I’m a US citizen just like you. I work hard EVERYDAY. What assistance to I get from the Government NONE. What about you? It’s obvious your IGNORANT can you even get a job? Or am I PAYING to take care of your BUTT. I’ve known spanish people all my life. I KNOW NOT ONE MEXICAN THAT LIVES OFF THE GOVERNMENT. NONE!!!!!! What about all the lazy americans that lay up getting food stamps DSS checks Medicaid. Do you have nothing to say about them. YOU ARE IGNORANT!!!! WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN THERES NO COLOR AND NO RACES. WHAT EXCUSE WILL YOU GIVE FOR YOUR ACTIONS. DOWNING PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW I SLEEP IN MY BED COMFORTABLY>
How much education do some of you have? I was trying to read your comments, and sadly , I am having no luck. Please read before you click the send button. That way we can all enjoy your huberis. As for the “Illegals”, I don’t care what country they are from,break their leggs and send them back. If they can’t do it legally, scr**w ‘em
too lisa and tmfloria’‘’‘’
we are not pinpointing the hispanics but they are the ones that get caught do daahhh they are the ones in the spotlight but i also do not see any other kind of people in line to wire money back to their country!!!! greeks also live here scott free and still claim residency in greece they do not pay taxes but they have respect for themselves and do it legal this is what we are all talking about is doing this legal!!! not about race color or any thing elase….
“I DONT THINK ITS RIGHT EVERYBODY JUST PINPOINTED ONLY HISPANICS. HAS ANYONE SEEN ON THE TV LATELY PEOPLE IDENTITY STOLEN FROM ILEGAL HISPANICS?“
I don’t see anything about Illegal Asian busts or Illegal African busts….
Doesn’t matter the people busted just so happen to be Hispanic…
Hispanics make the majority of Illegals in the country.. That’s why it’s a problem….
The fact that the hispanic community legal or not think it’s ok to Border Jump is SICK!...
Your country sucks so much, HELP FIX IT! I as a american shouldn’t have too!
AN OPINION IS JUST LIKE AN A**HOLE EVERYBODY HAS ONE. IM 100% AMERICAN SORRY NOT RACIST AGAINST ANYBODY. MY OPINION GOES JUST LIKE YOURS. I DONT THINK ITS RIGHT EVERYBODY JUST PINPOINTED ONLY HISPANICS. HAS ANYONE SEEN ON THE TV LATELY PEOPLE IDENTITY STOLEN FROM ILEGAL HISPANICS?
I’d like to know what happens to these people once they are caught.. Are they deported and nothing else? Are the fined? Jailed? What about the people would are knowing aiding and abedding them?
Gov needs to make them pay for their actions.. If they don’t then they are just going to jump the border again and again and again ...
I know there was talks about figuring out how long individuals were in the states and how much $ they owe the gov and fining them but where has that gone?
Not only should the owner , supervisors, people in charge etc of this company should pay HUGE fines but they should loose the business.. Let the gov take it over and hire real legit Americans!
If any of us was to aid and abed a felon we’d be in jail.. Why should anyone else in this situation be treated any different?!
i just hope and pray that every single one of these people that has commented on this subject writes to each and every one of their local government offical and all state and higer government only we can change this by letting them know how we feel the one person thats boy friend is in custody you are in your situation because of common stupidity what kind of life do you actually think you could have you are making your kids suffer because you have no common sense it is very sad you made your bed now you have to live in it how much do you get a month from the government a month it is people like you you that the people that need help cant get it you need to be deported with your boyfriend if mexico is so bad i hope you enjoy it mexico needs to fix mexico and for all the ones that try to come here and die it is very sad but i hate to say it thats waht happens when you try to break the law if it is so bad tell them to go to iraq and see just how bad life can be!!!!!!!!!
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