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Agents raid meat plants in Nebraska, 5 other states

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BY ART HOVEY / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 08:49:12 pm CST

GRAND ISLAND — An untold number of workers at the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant could face deportation after federal immigration officials descended on the plant Tuesday with search warrants in hand.

Greg Palmore, spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said there would be no tally until today on how many Swift employees would be leaving the country immediately and how many others would have hearings before a judge to try to verify they are in the United States legally.

“This is a work-site investigation that has identified a large identity-theft scheme,” Palmore said.

Story Photo
Immigration and Custom Enforcement police stand guard at the entrance of a Swift & Co. meat processing plant in Greeley, Colo., on Tuesday. Agents raided meat processing plants in six states, including Nebraska, and arrested an unknown number of suspected illegal immigrants in an identity theft investigation, temporarily suspending operations at all six plants. (AP)

Five other Swift plants in Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas and Utah also were targeted by agents who arrived in the culmination of an investigation that, Palmore said, began in February. The plants include all of Swift’s domestic beef processing capacity and 77 percent of its pork processing capacity.

Stolen Social Security numbers were a major focus in an enforcement action that began in Grand Island shortly after sunrise and included buses brought in to haul away anybody who could not prove legal status.

Grand Island Police Chief Steve Lamken said he refused to let his officers take part in the raid.

“When this is all over, we’re still here taking care of our community and if I have a significant part of my population that’s fearful and won’t call us, then that’s not good for our community,” he said.

By 4 p.m., there were no obvious signs of a major departure from the usual work routine outside a massive beef-processing plant on Grand Island’s eastern outskirts. Trucks were entering and leaving, and there were numerous cars in the employee parking lot.

The immigration crackdown is sure to attract major attention from Nebraska’s Hispanic community, other meatpackers and just about everybody with business or community ties to Hispanic residents.

While Tim Counts, a Minneapolis-based ICE spokesman, said the agency has been more aggressive over the last several years enforcing immigration laws, raids at meatpacking plants in Nebraska have been rare since the early 1990s.

Counts portrayed the joint operation as “very methodical, very organized and very low-key overall.” It was not a raid, he said, and not a precipitator of the kind of chaos that ensued when the now defunct Immigration and Naturalization Service came to the same Grand Island plant, then owned by Monfort, in 1992 with dogs and helicopters.

Grand Island’s Hispanic population seemed to be drawing little comfort from Tuesday’s tactics.

Odalys Perez of the Grand Island Multi-Cultural Coalition said she was “so upset I don’t have words to describe how upset I am.”

Despite Counts’ assurances of an orderly operation, Perez referred to the day’s events as “really bad and really sad” and a major source of disruption to Hispanic families. “How do you explain to a 10-year-old that he’s going to go home to an empty house?” she said.

At least two local school buildings were being used to house students who needed food, a blanket and a place to stay, Perez said.

Some of those whose lives were disrupted live in apartments in the building where Perez has her office. One woman whose husband was taken away “took her child and moved to Columbus to be with her family,” she said.

Marian Alvarez, owner and manager of the Latin American Grocery Store in downtown Grand Island, said many of the Hispanic businesses along West Fourth Street felt the effects immediately.

“I’ve only had five customers all day,” she said. Other retail outlets closed early “because nobody is coming in today.”

Counts said the workplace enforcement at Swift is the most recent in a series that have resulted in thousands of arrests in the past year. “In fact, we’ve arrested more people in 2006, like seven times more people, than the old INS arrested in 2002.”

Mass detainments drew an outpouring of concern from the Appleseed Center, which includes immigrant advocacy in its nonprofit work in Lincoln.

Darcy Tromanhauser and Milo Mumgaard said sending workers south of the U.S. border to face hunger and destitution was hardly an acceptable substitute for national immigration reform.

“It seems to be completely heartless and mean-spirited right before the holiday season,” Tromanhauser said, “and there’s a better way. All this will do is separate many Nebraska families and leave a lot of kids tonight without parents coming home. Some of these kids will be American citizens.”

Mumgaard said Appleseed advocates “want to see the immigration problem fixed. We do not want to see new rounds of human misery foisted upon people.”

The company’s president and chief executive, Sam Rovit, issued a news release denying knowingly hiring illegal workers.

Swift spokesman Sean McHugh offered prepared remarks from the company’s headquarters in Greeley. He said there were no criminal charges against the company’s managers and it was uncertain how long or how much meatpacking operations would be disrupted.

“Swift believes that today’s actions by the government violate the agreement associated with the company’s participation over the last 10 years in the federal government’s Basic Pilot worker authorization program,” the statement said, “and raise serious questions as to the government’s possible violation of individual workers’ civil rights.”

Since 1997, Swift has used a government pilot program to check Social Security numbers. Company officials have said one shortcoming may be the program’s inability to detect when two people are using the same number.

McHugh was not immediately available for follow-up questions.

Reach Art Hovey at 523-4949 or ahovey@alltel.net. The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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T wrote on December 12, 2006 2:43 pm:
" This was a good first step. I wish Swift would be fined $25,000 for each illegal that they find there, that is the only way to stop the problem. "

Bah wrote on December 12, 2006 2:59 pm:
" Shocking! Just Shocking! "

shameful wrote on December 12, 2006 3:30 pm:
" Tear apart families and abuse those most vulnerable for the sake of corporate profits and wealthy investors. Welcome to "family values" in the 21st century United States. For Swift to say they has no idea they were hiring illegal workers would be laughable were it not for the fact that families are presently being separated with these raids. This game has been going on in the meat packing industry since the '80s, and companies know full-well that they're hiring illegals -- where else would they get the quantity of laborers to do that difficult and dangerous work for such low wages? Every burger we eat supports this corrupt industry. It's shameful, and it's happening right here in our state. This is NOT the fault of those desperate for employment to care for their families, it is the fault of greedy corporations looking to profit from that desperation. "

jerome wrote on December 12, 2006 3:40 pm:
" The chief of police in GI should be fired. It sounds like to me he's a coward. When they round them up with fake papers they should be charged with counterfeiting. This includes any people selling the papers. Swift and any other company that hires should be fined even more than 25K. They ahve a start now only 12 million to go. "

easy on GI... wrote on December 12, 2006 3:49 pm:
" The police chief has a very valid point. How would you like to be robbed only to have your neighbor refuse to call the police because he was an illegal immigrant? "

Darrin wrote on December 12, 2006 3:51 pm:
" It is great to see something being done about this. Next step is Crete, NE "

ET wrote on December 12, 2006 3:53 pm:
" Sounds like the Police Chief has realized that with so many of the residents being illegal, that he can't afford to alienate the population that he is charged with protecting. See, if America had cared about illegal immigration 30 YEARS ago when it started to be an issue, we wouldn't be here today. As it sits now, we either destroy millions of families, wreck our economy, and get Mexico up in arms against us, or just let it continue, and face the facts that the US will be half (or more) hispanic within 30 years, with white people making up a small minority. Oh, and speaking Spanish. Americans made this bed, now they're going to sleep in it, and I'm tired of the whining about it, since this battle has been over for a long, long, time. "

whatever wrote on December 12, 2006 3:56 pm:
" I can't believe the government is actually taking an aggressive stand towards curbing illegal immigration. Had they done something like this a few months ago I might have changed some of my votes. Now, round up the buses and let's move on to Madison, Lexington, Crete, Schuyler, Dakota City and Lincoln. Make sure the G.I. police chief is on a bus too, don't need traitors like him in this country. "

Lisa wrote on December 12, 2006 3:59 pm:
" Blame lies on the shoulders of politicians, businesses AND illegals and their supporters. All must take responsibility AND suffer the consequences for their actions. keep in mind these people didn't just break laws to enter this country, they broke laws to obtained illegal papers and false identification! We should not feel sorry for lawbreakers - if we did, why shouldn't we feel sorry for any other thief or criminal trying to make a buck to improve their lives? There are laws in place - people who break the laws must be held accountable. "

D wrote on December 12, 2006 4:21 pm:
" They only arrested the suspected criminals. Those that are here legally have no problem to fear. Those that are not are theives and don't give me that tired message that we need these workers. They only represent corporate profits. THe meat packing industry needs to computerize their operations and eliminate the massive hand labor needed. It hasn't been done because it hasn't needed to be done as long as they have an endless supply of illegal immigrant slaves. Technolgy will overtake the need for hand labor when hand labor is too expensive. Stop the illegal immigrant mess and hand labor will become too expensive. I think it has something to do with Economics 101....supply and demand. Name me even one other industry that has not improved their technology to eliminate labor costs! "

Mark O. wrote on December 12, 2006 4:35 pm:
" listening to my father and his drinkin' buddies as a younger boy . I never realized how true their words would come true. After working across America as a young man . I now reside in Houston Texas and yern for the days gone by . I'm not againist a true immigrant , but take it to heart and run a tight ship NOW !! Before it gets to the place it is down here . My five year HAS spanish in school but NO recess !!! "

Mark wrote on December 12, 2006 4:54 pm:
" It looks like the sherif or chief of police have thier pockets filled with big business money.I to believe swift knew who's legally here and who's not.Remember it's not a problem tell you get caught then play dumb. "

Thank god. . . wrote on December 12, 2006 5:39 pm:
" Now that we'll be rid of all those evil "illegal" immigrants, I'm sure that droves of red-blooded, hard-working American men and women will be lining up around the block to take back those jobs that are rightfully ours, right? Um, right? Oh, that's right--I forgot that the average American consumer has no interest in paying $6 per lb. for 85/15 ground beef. I laugh at all the self-righteous "illegal" rhetoric. Americans benefit from aliens coming here to work, but don't want them to be here to do it. And let's not get started about how much your lettuce, grapes, tomatoes, etc. would cost. Bring these people into the economy and get them registered. The "round 'em up" theory is garbage. "

Thank god! wrote on December 12, 2006 5:40 pm:
" Now that we'll be rid of all those evil "illegal" immigrants, I'm sure that droves of red-blooded, hard-working American men and women will be lining up around the block to take back those jobs that are rightfully ours, right? Um, right? Oh, that's right--I forgot that the average American consumer has no interest in paying $6 per lb. for 85/15 ground beef. I laugh at all the self-righteous "illegal" rhetoric. Americans benefit from aliens coming here to work, but don't want them to be here to do it. And let's not get started about how much your lettuce, grapes, tomatoes, etc. would cost. Bring these people into the economy and get them registered. The "round 'em up" theory is garbage. "

ME wrote on December 12, 2006 5:44 pm:
" The real problem is that big companies need to get illegals to do things we refuese to do. Remember big companies think in dollars, most of the big companies are coming down to mexico to get more profits in their business. "

Soldier in Iraq wrote on December 12, 2006 5:58 pm:
" I agree with the police chief and for his reasons why. I myself am hispanic and don't believe in illegals of any race. This country was built on everyone being equal and being able to make a better life for them and their families. If someone looks at me bad because of race then that is there choice, but don't judge everyone that way. Last time I looked in a prison every race is present. I'm all for everyone coming to this country as long as it's done the right way. That's why I'm over here in Iraq, helping others fight so they can have the same rights we do. Don't judge a book by its cover. "

See ya! wrote on December 12, 2006 6:01 pm:
" Go home! Come here legally! Your luck ran out. "

Police Chief Steve Lamken wrote on December 12, 2006 6:09 pm:
" Shame on you. You are sworn to up hold the law. You refused to do so. This boarder line aiding and abeting a criminal. If I did that knowingly you would arrest me and I am a citizen. "

Oath of Office & Constitution wrote on December 12, 2006 8:01 pm:
" Chief Steve Lamkin, you betrayed me. Please resign. "

hmm wrote on December 12, 2006 8:23 pm:
" These illegals were stealing SSN and Birth Certificates of legal citizens. I have not ONE bit of sympathy for these criminals. I have even less sympathy for those that helped get this private information to the illegals. "

vanessa humaran wrote on December 12, 2006 9:10 pm:
" Illegals this, illegals that. No human being is illegal. Those of you who say that immigrant workers from Mexico aren't needed here are full of it. I can bet that half these comments are posted by the perfect elite of Lincoln who have there hands washed of all sins. Why is it that these "roundups" are always done on a day that Mexican people celebrate. The Last one was on the 5th of may and now on our day of the Virgin of Guadalupe? I see nothing wrong with people coming to the United States to make a better living for their family. If you only knew how hard it is to come here legally from Mexico!!! I know that ignorance speaks for half of these comments, but I'm losing hope in Lincon people, at least the ones who posted the "I'm happy they rounded them up like cattle" comments. We are all children of God regardless of our nationality and please pray for those families who are suffering now due to these "round ups" I do agree on one thing.. deport all the thiefs and criminals regardless of nationality. THAT will make Nebraska better!! "

Shame on Lamken! wrote on December 12, 2006 9:23 pm:
" I cannot believe that the Chief of GIPD, the head of an agency that is sworn to UPHOLD THE LAW, would refuse to take part in CARRYING OUT THAT DUTY because it might "alienate" a portion of the population - a portion that apparently supports and/or is made up of those who are NOT upholding the law. The term "illegal aliens" says it all - the key word being ILLEGAL - against the law, in this country illegally - and for the head of an agency charged with upholding the laws of a community to refuse to take part in carrying out his lawful duties - regardless of who it alienates - is absolutely pathetic! The people of GI who actually have respect for our laws should DEMAND his resignation/termination, effective immediately. It's also nice to know that in this age rife with identity theft that the Chief of GI PD doesn't want to get involved in the investigation or apprehension of anyone that might actually be committing it. Congratulations Chief, you have stayed in the god graces of the illegals and their sympathizers, but you have now "alientated" another significant portion of your population: those who actually respect and follow the rule of law. You have lost "the public trust." You are not fit to head any law enforcement agency, starting with GI PD. "

legal wrote on December 12, 2006 9:37 pm:
" I came here from another country, filled out the necessary paperwork and became a citizen going through the proper channels. If these people will break the immigration laws, use phony ID and take good paying jobs away from those who have been born here or are here legally then maybe they would have no qualms about breaking other laws also? "

David wrote on December 12, 2006 9:52 pm:
" Illegals broke the law (hence the term illegal) - what makes people think that it is OK to falsify documents, lie, break laws to enter this country and work here. It isn't. What makes people think it is OK to steal the SSN's of others and their identities - It isn't! It is wrong, it is against the law. The Americans won't do these jobs is a crock! We've got plenty of people on Welfare who can earn their $ by getting a job. You earn your citizenship - YOU DON'T GET TO STEAL IT! "

Joe wrote on December 12, 2006 9:59 pm:
" Illegal line-jumpers have no rights in my country. I have several relatives waiting to immigrate to Nebraska, legally. Boycott Swift meat products, produced with illegal slave labor. "

A better solution wrote on December 13, 2006 2:58 am:
" My wife just finished writing a college paper on the old Operation Vanguard ('98-'99), INS, and whether this was a discriminatory and unfair act against Hispanics of our communities. One thing is obvious; nothing has changed. The government was supposed to provide employers with a reliable means of verifying an applicant's SSN, to reduce or eliminate the hiring of "illegals". Yes, I said "illegals", because these people are here against our laws. We can sympathize with their situation all we want. That does not change the fact that they knowingly and willingly slipped over our border in defiance of those laws. If those laws prove to be unjust, then lobby to change them. That being said, I do not agree with the government response to swoop down and suddenly rip apart families and create mass chaos. After all, our same government is to blame for the flawed conditions that led these people to be here in the first place. Sadly, one other thing is true; we have come to rely upon these people, and others like them; so unfortunate that they actually view a job like a meat-packing plant as a "golden opportunity", when no other class of people would be willing to take their place. My company represents over 13 different nationalities alone, each and every one of them are here legally. Bottom line; there is a right and wrong way of doing things, but the government needs to bear some of the blame. Should the Chief of GIPD resign because he stood by his community? No. But he should resign for ignoring the mass counterfitting that has been going on right under his nose. Anyone "in touch" with his people would be all too aware that this has been going on. "

lookin-out wrote on December 13, 2006 7:00 am:
" Whats the big deal? They are deported back to Mexico, OUR Government then gives them money (they can't leave them stranded without cash!) and they are back in 2-3 days. "

David wrote on December 13, 2006 7:22 am:
" As a citizen, if I break these same laws, nobody would worry about my family being in misery if I went to jail. Hey, I'm just trying to better my life, take care of my family - if it means stealing your SSN that's what I had to do. If you break the laws, you break the laws. "

Wondering? wrote on December 13, 2006 7:24 am:
" How much money the packing companies save by not having to pay vacation pay to anyone who quits before the 2nd of January. Who will profit most when the price of meat goes up? If companies want to cut the work force, lay off workers or fire them, they have to pay unemployment and in some cases severence pay. How about Christmas bonuses or a ham, if they give any? I was wondering-Maybe if there are no workers in the United States they may have to move their plants to another country and import our meat. These raids always seem to fall right before Christmas. What a coincidence! "

Well....... wrote on December 13, 2006 8:27 am:
" If you are here in the country legally, GOOD FOR YOU!! You are trying to make your life better for yourself and your family, and that is wonderful. But if you are here illegally that is a crime, and you should be punished for it. It is also a crime to steal someones identity so that you won't get caught. I am tired of rules being bent for illegal aliens. It is wrong!! Rules aren't bent for american citizens who are going through hardships,why should it should be done if you are here illegally. If you want to be in the country so bad, then you need to do it the right way. Everywhere you go things are more and more being accomedated for illegal aliens, they way things are written, and the language it is in. I bet if you go to mexico they won't accomidate their language for you, why should I. "

federal funds wrote on December 13, 2006 8:48 am:
" My guess is that the chief went to the mayor and was denied permission to participate. Federal funds and grants should be with held from any law enforcement agency refusing to assist or enforce the law. Usually the excuse is "We don't enforce federal law." Well then we need a state statue making it a crime to be in Nebraska while in the country illegally. Our current trespass statue actually fits but the liberal jusdges would never stand for it being enforced. "

Sean1 wrote on December 13, 2006 8:55 am:
" So individuals illegaly in this country and have stople SSN's have been rounded up from a company that is paying slave labor wages and circumventing federal law at every opportunity. Sounds like someone finally did their job. I think it's time there was a federal investigation of the relationship between Swift and the Grand Island Police chief. One workers wife claimed, on camera, that Swift normally gets warning of an INS raid and notifys the illegal workers. A little forensic check of the GIP chiefs bank accounts might turn up some interesting figures. As for Americans yelling about a rise in meat prices if Swift and other processors paid a living wage? They screamed about a huge rise in gas prices but the demand never went down now did it? "

Overjoyed with the outcome! wrote on December 13, 2006 9:05 am:
" I think they should have gotten addresses for all these illegals and "raided" their homes too, spouses and children are illegal too. That would stop all the complaining about how "children have no parents at home now." It also stops the whinning about it being around the holidays. Send them ALL home, problem solved! "

Hey Hey Goodbye wrote on December 13, 2006 9:18 am:
" Illegal, illegal, illegal, illegal. Did I say illegal? No stolen SS #'s, no drivers licenses, no "in-state" tuition. Just d-e-p-o-r-t-a-t-i-o-n. Why do we continue to support illegal activities? The bleeding hearts who think it is such a travesty should talk to the illegal immigrants who have proper channels to achieve "legal" status. Otherwise give me a 'd" - give me an 'e' - give me a 'p'.... What does that spell "deportation." It is time for those of us who have been kicked back into the dark because we aren't "pc" to speak out about OUR country. Like it or not - there are rules. Now, let's get to enforcing them. "

Lay Off Lamken wrote on December 13, 2006 9:22 am:
" Everyone should stop their posturing about who is a bigger law & order supporter. Police Chief Steve Lamken did what was best for his community, which is what law enforcement is about. It is easy to call for those "damn illegals" to be sent home from your easy chair. However, when you are patroling the streets you want to make sure the community trusts you and is on your side to remove the truly heinous crimes that occur in our communities. The real tragedy in our crimanal system is that we tend to go after the easy target. Let's arrest the marginalized population who doesn't have the resources to truly defend themselves, while the individuals and companies who created this problem remain safe because they are white, have money, and political connections. Illegal immigrants are only a product of bad public policy and racist, protectionist attitudes in our country. I got mine now "piss off." We complain about our jobs going overseas and then in the same breath complain about illegal immigrants stealing our jobs at home. Those jobs wouldn't be here in the first place if it weren't for low wage workers. There has been so much flight in Nebraska that there are barely enough people to work the jobs avaiable. "

Dawg wrote on December 13, 2006 9:26 am:
" Isn't it interesting how Police Chief Steve Lamken, Appleseed advocates and Sen. Ray Aguilar (District 35, Grand Island) all believe this is some tragedy. I agree If you are here in the country legally,good for you trying to better yourself. I also say why isn't immigration checking the relatives gathered outside the plant to see if they're legal or illegal. Instead of saying Oh poor illegal's, we should be saying to immigrant offic1als, "Do your job completely." If the workers are illegal what about those family member....Rules aren't bent for American citizens, But in Grand Island you have Sen. Ray Aguilar and Police Chief Steve Lamken, who's for illegal's and for not upholding the law. They should rename Grand Island to Grande Little Mexico City. "

Way to Go ICE wrote on December 13, 2006 9:30 am:
" Stop complaining about Police Chief Lamken. It is not his job to enforce federal immigraton law. Do you think his department gets any money from the feds for doing their bidding? Chief Lamken would be left holding the bag after the feds swoop into nebraska, look tough in their big black helmuts, disrupt the community leaving children without parents and taking away spouses. You want to talk about a drain on social services. Nothing promotes crime like desperatation and guess who gets to take care of the mess. Not the feds as they fly home in their black helicopters, slapping each other on the back for doing a great job while enjoying a beer in the the suburbs. "

Julia wrote on December 13, 2006 9:36 am:
" In 1969 those jobs paid close to $14 per hour. That would be like $60.00 today. If they still paid that, you would have legal Americans lined up to take them. "

Jim wrote on December 13, 2006 9:54 am:
" As for those who desire to support illegal immigration, you are also condoning breaking American laws. Not a single illegal alien here or in the raids had any civil or human rights violated They have no "rights" under this American constitution if they are here illegally. They are the ones who are violating American's rights & laws, stealing identities, stealing Social Security numbers from LEGAL citizens. Face it if you break the law, you are a lawbreaker & deserve the punishment of a criminal. As for me, I have visited Grand Island recently and honestly, I was under the impression that I was not in a Nebraska City, I truly felt that I was in a Latino community. It is time to reform immigration, this is true. If you want to be here, welcome, but do it legally and then you don't have to complain about American's upholding our laws. "

wifey wrote on December 13, 2006 10:11 am:
" My husband is a non-hispanic who works in this type of job. Yes, he is happy to have the job, so for those of you who think "white" people won't do these jobs, well, you are wrong. But what he has found since he started working there is that the hispanics there don't really want to be there. They stand around and talk and the supervisors don't want to lose their workforce so they just let them. When my husband came in and worked his butt off, they got mad because it made them look bad. To the point of trying to injure him or make him so mad he would quit. So far, he's still hanging in there but they are really trying to make his life a living hell. Oh, by the way, where he works it is common knowledge who to go to get working papers. "

Vineyard7181 wrote on December 13, 2006 10:12 am:
" RE: Police Chief Steve Lamken - It's good to see that Cheif Lamken has a conscience and an ethical sence of awareness outside of himself. A greater upholding of the law is to examine how certain actions effect individuals within the law. Thanks for your ethical awareness and ability to make strong decisions for the better future outcome Chief Lamken. "

brad wrote on December 13, 2006 10:16 am:
" Maybe we should only deport law breakers. It seems that these workers have done nothing wrong accept try to hold a job in a place where American citizens choose not to work. "

Idea wrote on December 13, 2006 10:23 am:
" Why don't we all boycott meat packed by producers that use illegal workers? If you truly care about illegal immigration, you can hurt the industry where they really feel it: their pocketbooks. Don't know where your meat comes from? What a great opportunity to learn. Can't live without animal flesh for that long? Find a local butcher, explore other protein sources, or talk to your local grocer about carrying meat from packers that do not use illegal workers. End illegal immigration now! Boycott illegal meat! "

Someone Who Cares wrote on December 13, 2006 10:29 am:
" I applaud Grand Island's police chief. Several have commented he was not upholding the law in refusing to help with the raid. I don't believe that is true. As I understand it local law enforcement do not have the authority to be involved in immigration matters without special approval/agreements. If that was not already in place prior to yesterday's raid, he was correct to refrain from any involvement by his staff. There are also those who are saying that those here legally are not impacted by this raid. Again, a false statement. I have talked with several attorneys this morning and those on the ground in GI yesterday. All indicated it is not uncommon for those here legally to be deported because they did not have their documents with them when the raid took place. Once that happens it is nearly impossible to return to family. Lastly, there are likely hundreds of children affected by this, some of which are US citizens by birth. "

Drew wrote on December 13, 2006 10:43 am:
" I think this is WRONG!!!! There needs to be a way that these can get their paperwork. That is if they have no records with the law. It is a circus in this country to get legal paperwork (taking months, years, and oops we lost it excuses) thus making thise that want to come do it illegally. To those that say its ok lets focus on ALL RACES that are in the country illegal some of the other groups take from our benefits more than those from Mexico. They sit and let us take care of them!! Some are also operating business illegally. And here we think the government is doing a GOOD job on this issue. WRONG it needs to be done right or not done at all. "

Lisa wrote on December 13, 2006 10:54 am:
" Illegal parents knew EXACTLY what they were doing when they came to this country and had children. They gambled. They lost! Citizens do stupid things that impact their children - and children you aren't worried about them? This anchor babies are the ones who will suffer from their parent's illegal actions - so be it. "

huskersteven wrote on December 13, 2006 10:59 am:
" I find it hard to believe that the U.S. government's basic pilot program would give Swift cart-blanch to hire illegal immigrants. the key word here is illegal and illegals do not enjoy the same civil rights as Nebraska and U.S. citizens. I think that ICE was right on with this one. "

Gus wrote on December 13, 2006 11:03 am:
" All the whining about tearing apart families by deporting illegal aliens is stupid. If what is stated in the article is correct and those "rounded up" and deported were using identities stolen from other citizens then they should not be deported they should be charged and convicted of the crime and sent to jail like any American citizen would be if they committed this crime. The way I see it, the issue is not whether they were in the country leagally or not. The issue is that they committed a crime in using stolen identities and for that they should be thrown in jail like any one else that committs this crime. Deport them after they serve their sentence if they are here illegaly. This may deter others from using these methods if they know that it's not just a matter of getting new papers and be back here in a few weeks. To all of those people that are crying for the families of these people, I'm glad to see that you can feel for your fellow man but there is no difference in their using stolen identities or committing another crime. They should be punished!! "

Josh wrote on December 13, 2006 11:36 am:
" I applaud immigration officials for getting off of their butts and starting to take this type of action! What sickens me is our local media, taking the angle of talking about the poor kids and spouses left behind. Yes their plight is sad, but the raids had to happen, those who were here ilegally were NOT supposed to be here period, and so being rounded up and taken away was the ONLY option. Beyond making sure every illegal immigrant from these plants is dealt with, we need to deal with the plants themselves- they need to pay a serious price for hiring illegals in the first place. "

bj wrote on December 13, 2006 11:52 am:
" Many times when I see the help wanted part of the paper asking for people to apply for this type of job. The contact is Nebraska work force development. Wouldn't this make the state of Nebraska the ones who let them slip through and get hired not the company who has workers sent to them from the state? "

Bret wrote on December 13, 2006 12:15 pm:
" Steve Lamkin should be replaced if he and his local staff won't help with the enforcement of USA and NE laws. Grand Island better wake up and smell the coffee, they think they are benefiting the economy but when its all said and done, the final bill totalled, the illegals cost more then contribute. GET YOURSELF A NEW POLICE CHIEF GRAND ISLAND! "

angelica ramirez wrote on December 13, 2006 12:39 pm:
" Too all those who always have to put in there two cents of negativity,you all say that we take your jobs.Well here is your chance you legal citizens, swift needs people, go work the 8-10 hr shifts them "illegals" as you like to say went to each day. I want too see how long you last. "

Troy wrote on December 13, 2006 12:45 pm:
" I have read a few of the comments referring to the meatpacker as paying "slave labor" wages. What a joke! It doesn't matter what they get paid, the government "gives" them food stamps and medical cards to go along with their pay. I worked along side of them in Lexington. I watched as they moved their cash aside to "pay" for their groceries at the store. They don't seem to have any trouble at the doctor's office, either. Illegal is illegal, the laws are there, ENFORCE them!!! "

my2cents wrote on December 13, 2006 12:58 pm:
" I sympathize with the children of these illegal workers. However, trying to blame the govt for these kids now being without a or both of their parents is absurd! It's the parent's fault! If they REALLY cared about their kids, they'd go through the process and become citizens legally. Then they would know wothout a doubt that the INS couldn't take them away. All of the workers taken were breaking the law, and I am glad that something was finally done about it. If they want to become citizens and work - I'd roll out the red carpet for them. BUT - if they just want to come here for the good job, government benefits, and freedom but not help us pay for it (in taxes, social security, etc.) they they can keep their selfish butts south of the border. "

Cesar wrote on December 13, 2006 1:18 pm:
" People do not understand that companies can only ask certain questions while hiring these production workers. The GOVERNMENT states that as long as a person has a valid ID and Social Security card then they are good to go. It is impossible to find out if that person is actually who they say they are. The GOVERNMENT only allows comapnies to ask certain questions because if you start asking questions about a persons identity then thats breaking the law. I love the way the Government says "Do not hire illegals" but then they say "you cant ask them certain questions about their identity during the interview beacuse thats wrong" "

Taxpayer wrote on December 13, 2006 1:34 pm:
" They are here illegally. They are stealing honest people's IDs. Enforce the laws pertaining to these law breakers. "

Terrible wrote on December 13, 2006 1:38 pm:
" There are better ways to handle this. I can just see the people that conducted these raids.......giving the "good ole boy" pat on the back, laughing and joking and at the end of the day, going home to their families. What about these poor children who are now left alone, scared and not knowing what their fate holds. We are supposed to be Christians who love our fellow neighbor, regardless of race or what background they come from. You should be thankful that you're not faced with a choice to have to leave your own country just to survive. We/you have it very easy just by the virtue of where we were born. It doesn't make us any better, just luckier. Do you think they want to leave their families to come here? I guarantee if you were to put yourself in their shoes and be faced with the decision to move to a different country illegally, just to be able to support your family, YOU DARN SURE WOULD!!! Have some compassion people! Some of you really make me frustrated in that you think American's are above every other culture. We are just born with more rights and opportunities, bottom line. At least they're working, which we can't say even for most legal immigrants that are here of all nationalities or some Americans who just soak up the welfare system and really don't want to work these kinds of jobs. This is the reason our country is so self-centered and self-absorbed, because we allow it and fuel the fire! "

CC wrote on December 13, 2006 1:44 pm:
" Deport them all. "

heartbroken wrote on December 13, 2006 1:50 pm:
" I'm heartbroken that these kids are going to have to stay all by themselves for the holidays.kids who have done nothing wrong have to suffer because thier parents did nothing except jump a fence! all these people are trying to do i get abetter live for themselves anf their offspring. they have a define animal right to try to giive them the world. For alll those who are glad from the outcome shame on you! Think about it like this if your forefathers hadden gotten on a ship and sailed the ocean to look for a job in this country YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE!!!we are all immigrants to this country unless you are 100% native american then honey you are an immigrant. imagine your kids got up one morning and you weren't home but instead there were some cops taking your place. Then they tel them sorry, we had to send them back to their country and now you and your sisters or brothers have to fend for yourself. How would feel if you were athousand miles away from your kids? and the only reason is because you weren't fortunate enought to have papers? it's hard for immigrants to get their papers... it takes along time and it's a stressfull process. It's sad that people are so ignorant and treat all these people like crap. All they come here to do is to make their lives better. they were working to have a better future for their kids and because of that they get punished?! If they were criminals as if they have broken another law other than being "illegal" what's so wrong of them living here? Are you just threathend because they could do better work than you? And all this talk about hurting the US, yeah right... think about it if they work with fake papers they don't get their taxes back that just means there's more money for the economy of the US. i'm tired of people thinking all immigrants are hispanics... what are ou stupid.. immigrants come from all over the world,so stop blaming the hispanics.Listen, african-american people had to go threw 20+ years of suffering because people were to ignorant. is this what america wants to go threw again...killing people because of the color of their kin or the language they talk? America is supposed to be the land of the free... that is what the Statue of Liberty stands for, but yet we are amking it hard for thepeople that want to live free to actually live free. And to all those who say hat America will be better of with out immigrants... please watch the movie "A Day Without A Mexican" it will open your eyes and help you understand what really will happen if this country looses all it's immigrant workers. So many people have died trying to achive the "American Dream" but yet there still a struggle goign on will this discrimination ever stop? "

Heather wrote on December 13, 2006 1:58 pm:
" Finally! This sort of thing needs to be done monthly. I hope they went to Schuyler and Crete as well. "

NV wrote on December 13, 2006 2:18 pm:
" I am disgusted that Grand Island Police chose to not take part in the raids - because they want to keep a good image in the community? Isn't law enforcement their job!? Too much of this results in the out of control system we have for immigration! "

chubs peterson wrote on December 13, 2006 2:42 pm:
" First off, the police Chief should be removed right now for aiding and abetting. It is his duty to follow the letter of the law even if it is socially unpopular. Instead he has injected his own substandard and unacceptable interpretation of the law. Protect And Serve Chief, remember that. Just a comment to Heartbroken. My family did come here form another country, however, they entered legally. What you are purposing is that it's ok to break the law. Not only are these folks here illegally they robbed US citizens of their identities. If you were to do this, you, a US citizen (I hope) would go to jail because you broke the law. "

Susan wrote on December 13, 2006 2:43 pm:
" Forget about the politics for a minute and think about the people who are dealing with having their identities stolen. Those people spend years dealing with the IRS about tax issues; getting billed for a tax debt that belongs to someone else; getting their credit fixed; and numerous issues arising from having your identity stolen. This is not just people "jumping a fence" and coming in to "do a job that American's won't". By stealing social security numbers they are creating a nightmare for someone else to deal with. "

They Will Be Back wrote on December 13, 2006 2:48 pm:
" I am sure the manager's at the company already have bus loads of new workers on their way to the plants. Advertisements in Mexico and Central America of good wages for jobs. Now the workers who had gotten raises will be replaced by workers with lower starting wages. The workers who return will get the starting wage again. Sounds to me like the winners of this raid are the govt. agency doing the raid and the company. "

National Law wrote on December 13, 2006 2:51 pm:
" Immigration laws are enforced by federal agents. The federal agents do not care about the towns after they take away parents and family members. Who is left, the local authorities and they have to deal with the problems caused by the feds. "

HR to Blame? wrote on December 13, 2006 2:52 pm:
" You know, illegal immigrants have to get hired at these meat processing facilities. I bet if the government started going after the human resources employees who hire the illegals (and the upper management condoning it), things might change real quick. "

O.W.C. wrote on December 13, 2006 2:54 pm:
" I wish someone would show me in writing where the laws define whether someone is a "legal immigrant" or "illegal immigrant". This is a very hot topic and I think people are letting passion get in the way of logical rational. I struggle find that any of these people are "illegal immigrants", but instead some of them may have broken the laws. Two different issues. And like I said earlier, there were people detained who have proper documentation, they just didn't happen to have it with them. If that is the case the system FAILED! "

clear mind wrote on December 13, 2006 3:00 pm:
" If history is correct this country is made up of groups of people who came here for opportunity, a better life. What makes one group legal and another illegal is based off of someones or a group of people's decisions. I'm not here to justify stealing peoples identities to work in the U.S., but really with millions of legal Americans who opt to not work these people are doing a favor for the American economy. It truly is a waist of our money to roundup productive people and deport them. Maybe we should find away to allow those individuals to stay legally, have them pay a fine or something and be done with it. The biggest reason for targeting these people is fear. I will not even go into breaking down how much fear plays in this issue, but really that fact that officials had to go into a place of unemployment says something about what type of people these people are. Hard-working, which says a lot. As Americans we should use the issues of illegals and reflect on the things we take for granted like hard work, education, family, etc "

Dm wrote on December 13, 2006 3:10 pm:
" Anyone that thinks the movie "A Day Without A Mexican" is factual then they need to follow the Illegal's to Mexico. That was a fictional movie. This is real life and what part of illegal don't you understand. We are not talking immigration here, we are talking about illegal immigration and unsecured borders.If they break our laws then we should punish them and the people who employ them. "

CS wrote on December 13, 2006 3:39 pm:
" Its a turf issue. Local LE cannot just insert themselves into Federal operations. Its not thier jurisdiction. If you don't like it, then change the law. It's not the chiefs fault for shielding himself from federal persecution. "

Cynthia Reyes (Proud Mexican) wrote on December 13, 2006 4:16 pm:
" What do you mean deport them all thats just wrong right there.Kids are being separated from their parents do you imagine how hard it'll be on these kids during the holidays.You know what Mexico should do deport ALL YOU WHITE PEOPLE! "

KS wrote on December 13, 2006 4:27 pm:
" To all of you whining about the poor illegals I beg you to come to California and see firsthand what illegal immigration has done to my beloved state. I cannot send my kids to my local public school because it is 93% latino. If you are black, white or asian, for the safety of your children, you cannot send them to the local schools because of the violence perpetrated against all non-latinos. This is in spite of the fact that I pay over 7,000 per year in property taxes. Forget about going to the E.R. If you can find one that is open you will be waiting many hours to see a doctor. I am also quite sick of hearing people tell me that this is Mexico. I am sick of hearing "white w*ore" screamed at me in Spanish when I drive down the road in my car that has an American flag on it. So wake up folks. The millions streaming across the borders are not the nice Mexican Americans we all grew up with. The recent arrivals have no interest in assimilated. They are here for the tax free jobs, Section 8 housing, food stamps and free medical care. All of which you are paying for! "

Brian wrote on December 13, 2006 5:05 pm:
" Send back all the illegals and let the families follow them. Fine the employers HEAVILY so they can't afford to hire Mexicans. I know several people who are victims of identity theft and it can wreak havoc on your whole financial life. Now who is going to work at all these new ethanol plants opening in Nebraska? "

jac wrote on December 13, 2006 5:07 pm:
" Ice should have stopped at the home of these illegals and criminals and rounded up their illegal spouses and children too. Get rid of all of them. What's the matter with the GI police chief. Dump him too. I find it hard to believe Swift wasn't at the very least aware of their workers using false documentation to get their jobs. Where do these companies think all of these people come from anyway. Surely not Nebraska. Find if rather hilarious so many were arrested that they had to shut the plant down. Guess there weren't a whole lot of legal workers there. No symapthy for any of them. "

O.W.C. wrote on December 13, 2006 5:12 pm:
" Good point CS. Immigration in and of itself is not an illegal act. Did these people commit crimes? Some of them apparently did by taking on stolen identities, but that is not an issue of "illegal immigration". That is fraud, identity theft, etc. There are penalties for that. It is not a crime to immigrate to the US. I think people are hardpressed to say an undocumented person has committed a crime. Again, I ask someone to show me where it is a CRIMINAL OFFENSE to be undocumented or that there really is a crime of "illegal immigrant". "

J wrote on December 13, 2006 5:34 pm:
" I'm glad its finally happened. These illegal immigrants are taking jobs away from our society and making us a more in poverty state. It needed to be done and yes it may seperate there families but they knew the risks they were taking by coming here illegally anyways. They deserve what came to them. God works in mysterious ways and God is the true judge. "

Jobs Americans won't do? wrote on December 13, 2006 5:56 pm:
" After working in a busy ER for 12hrs working in a meat packing plant would be a piece of cake. Us hard working legal citizens can and will do anything. This is America, land of the strong. And lady, the strong want to send all the illegal people back where they came from. Illegals suck our system dry with food stamps, medicaid and everything else that is for legal citizens. "

tired wrote on December 13, 2006 5:56 pm:
" These people want to work in this country. come in through proper channels adn then pay taxes like the rest of us. and I agree that there are a lot of dead beats to lazy to work. Maybe we can exchange one for one. most of those sent back probably haev there families back there any way "

Lincoln wrote on December 13, 2006 7:18 pm:
" If there were here legally, they wouldn't be in trouble. "

CG wrote on December 13, 2006 8:10 pm:
" I truly believe that every bleeding-heart ought to volunteer to take at least four illegals into their home so THEY can feed them, clothe them, pay for their medical bills and education - maybe they would like to buy them a car or two while their at it. At least then it wouldn't come out of my tax money. We have enough US citizens that can use our help without adopting Mexico. "

Lee T wrote on December 13, 2006 8:17 pm:
" What part of illegal immigrant do you dense people out there not undestand. These are people that have entered our country illegally and are not even paying taxes. There are people that want to give the children of these people in state tuition at our colleges. This is just flat wrong. These illegals are collecting social security without paying a dime into the system. If these people do not want to