Regional News
Union files lawsuit to stop some immigration raids
Published Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 07:23 AM
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) _ A lawsuit filed today in Texas says federal agents violated the rights of workers at the Swift and Company meatpacking plant in Grand Island and elsewhere across the country during immigration raids in December. The lawsuit was filed by the workers union, and it asks that the federal court to stop immigration officials from conducting what the union says are illegal workplace raids. It demands that the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pay damages to the workers. ICE officials arrested nearly 1,300 workers at the plants, but union officials say more than 12,000 workers were detained against their will. Spokesman Tim Counts denies the allegations of ICE misconduct. On the Net: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: http://www.ice.gov ICE arrest totals from Swift operation: http://tinyurl.com/3x2vrv United Food and Commercial Workers International Union: http://www.ufcw.org Swift & Co.: http://www.swiftbrands.com
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