350 detained in immigration raid at Mississippi plant

[peejay 327]

350 detained in immigration raid at Mississippi plant

By HOLBROOK MOHR

Associated Press

Aug. 25, 2008, 5:45PM

LAUREL, Miss. — Federal immigration agents said they uncovered 350 suspected undocumented workers in a raid on a Mississippi electrical equipment plant on Monday, hours after sealing all entrances amid reports their sweep had idled normal operations.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Barbara Gonzalez confirmed the raid and said it targeted Howard Industries Inc. of Laurel.

The company produces dozens of products ranging from electrical transformers to medical supplies, according to its Web site.

"This is a targeted enforcement operation that is part of an ongoing ICE investigation that has revealed that illegal aliens are employed at Howard Industries," Gonzalez said, adding late Monday that agents were still interviewing plant workers.

She declined to say how many federal agents were involved, but said they acted on a tip provided by a union worker.

ICE spokesman Brandon Montgomery said outside the plant Monday afternoon that agents were talking with everyone who worked at the sprawling plant to determine their residency status.

All plant entrances were blocked, with tents set up at some ICE checkpoints to keep agents out of a steady rain. Motorists traveling on roads behind the plant were stopped by officers in unmarked vehicles and told to leave.

Suspected illegal workers were loaded later Monday into white vans with shaded windows and driven away as ICE agents guarded the plant entrances. Gonzalez wouldn't say where they were headed other than to say they were being taken to a holding facility.

People leaving the plant told The Hattiesburg American newspaper that so many workers were stopped that operations were shut down. It wasn't clear how many workers the plant employed.

Billy Howard, the company's chief executive officer, did not immediately respond to a message left by the AP. A man who answered a phone call at the company's security station said reporters would have to call back Tuesday.

Howard Industries was founded in the 1960s. In 2002, state lawmakers approved a $31.5 million, taxpayer-backed incentive plan aimed at helping to expand its operations.

The raid is one of several nationwide in recent years.

On May 12, federal immigration officials swept into Agriprocessors, the nation's largest kosher meatpacking plant, in Iowa. Nearly 400 workers were detained and dozens of fraudulent permanent resident alien cards were seized from the plant's human resources department, court records showed.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headli...on/5965197.html

[Ban Hammer 13,355]

She declined to say how many federal agents were involved, but said they acted on a tip provided by a union worker.

and people wonder why unions are dying out.

[dalegg 143]

There you go. 350 new job openings in the manufacturing field in Mississippi.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

There you go. 350 new job openings in the manufacturing field in Mississippi.

Yup. Jobs and tax revenue. Sweet!!

[peejay 327]

There you go. 350 new job openings in the manufacturing field in Mississippi.

While they are at it, ICE could put a huge dent in the estimated 400 - 500 thousand illegal aliens in Houston by raiding just about any construction project in town. Even the high paying ones in the local refineries and offshore oil facilities.

It's real funny...the Democrats openly embrace illegal aliens and at the same time whine about high black unemployment and the demise in unionism and worker rights. Ted Kennedy is a self serving moron and party hack.

[almaty 19]

in a related news blur..3,500 illegals crossed the border today..350 lol...publicity stunt for ICE....makes no difference at all.

[christera22 8]

One way good , other way this is bad. And good example of bad american journalism. Doesnt mention where from the illegal workers belonged to .... funny !

[akdiver 3]

Ted Kennedy is a self serving moron and party hack.

Don't forget killer. Probably the greatest accomplishment of his career.

[panamania79 2]

She declined to say how many federal agents were involved, but said they acted on a tip provided by a union worker.

and people wonder why unions are dying out.

They may be dying but they have no problems charging high union dues.(I pay $40 a month)

Edited September 6, 2008 by panamania79

[panamania79 2]

She declined to say how many federal agents were involved, but said they acted on a tip provided by a union worker.

and people wonder why unions are dying out.

They may be dying but they have no problems charging high union dues.(I pay $40 a month)

The union worker tipped off agents because illegal immigrants are taking union jobs.If you don't beleive me,read this.

http://www.projo.com/news/stategovernment/...34.42cc2d6.html

[symbiosis 0]

350 detained in immigration raid at Mississippi plant

By HOLBROOK MOHR

Associated Press

Aug. 25, 2008, 5:45PM

LAUREL, Miss. — Federal immigration agents said they uncovered 350 suspected undocumented workers in a raid on a Mississippi electrical equipment plant on Monday, hours after sealing all entrances amid reports their sweep had idled normal operations.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Barbara Gonzalez confirmed the raid and said it targeted Howard Industries Inc. of Laurel.

The company produces dozens of products ranging from electrical transformers to medical supplies, according to its Web site.

"This is a targeted enforcement operation that is part of an ongoing ICE investigation that has revealed that illegal aliens are employed at Howard Industries," Gonzalez said, adding late Monday that agents were still interviewing plant workers.

She declined to say how many federal agents were involved, but said they acted on a tip provided by a union worker.

ICE spokesman Brandon Montgomery said outside the plant Monday afternoon that agents were talking with everyone who worked at the sprawling plant to determine their residency status.

All plant entrances were blocked, with tents set up at some ICE checkpoints to keep agents out of a steady rain. Motorists traveling on roads behind the plant were stopped by officers in unmarked vehicles and told to leave.

Suspected illegal workers were loaded later Monday into white vans with shaded windows and driven away as ICE agents guarded the plant entrances. Gonzalez wouldn't say where they were headed other than to say they were being taken to a holding facility.

People leaving the plant told The Hattiesburg American newspaper that so many workers were stopped that operations were shut down. It wasn't clear how many workers the plant employed.

Billy Howard, the company's chief executive officer, did not immediately respond to a message left by the AP. A man who answered a phone call at the company's security station said reporters would have to call back Tuesday.

Howard Industries was founded in the 1960s. In 2002, state lawmakers approved a $31.5 million, taxpayer-backed incentive plan aimed at helping to expand its operations.

The raid is one of several nationwide in recent years.

On May 12, federal immigration officials swept into Agriprocessors, the nation's largest kosher meatpacking plant, in Iowa. Nearly 400 workers were detained and dozens of fraudulent permanent resident alien cards were seized from the plant's human resources department, court records showed.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headli...on/5965197.html

Ah, that's too bad. So much lost revenue.

Of course, these illegals pay billions each year in social security (which they will never see) and payroll taxes and 75% of them pay income taxes.

[natty bumppo 297]

Ah, that's too bad. So much lost revenue.

Of course, these illegals pay billions each year in social security (which they will never see) and payroll taxes and 75% of them pay income taxes.

links to support your belief ... the 75% pay income taxes ....

darn ... wish ICE would raid the construction sites in Houston

[panamania79 2]

350 detained in immigration raid at Mississippi plant

By HOLBROOK MOHR

Associated Press

Aug. 25, 2008, 5:45PM

LAUREL, Miss. — Federal immigration agents said they uncovered 350 suspected undocumented workers in a raid on a Mississippi electrical equipment plant on Monday, hours after sealing all entrances amid reports their sweep had idled normal operations.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Barbara Gonzalez confirmed the raid and said it targeted Howard Industries Inc. of Laurel.

The company produces dozens of products ranging from electrical transformers to medical supplies, according to its Web site.

"This is a targeted enforcement operation that is part of an ongoing ICE investigation that has revealed that illegal aliens are employed at Howard Industries," Gonzalez said, adding late Monday that agents were still interviewing plant workers.

She declined to say how many federal agents were involved, but said they acted on a tip provided by a union worker.

ICE spokesman Brandon Montgomery said outside the plant Monday afternoon that agents were talking with everyone who worked at the sprawling plant to determine their residency status.

All plant entrances were blocked, with tents set up at some ICE checkpoints to keep agents out of a steady rain. Motorists traveling on roads behind the plant were stopped by officers in unmarked vehicles and told to leave.

Suspected illegal workers were loaded later Monday into white vans with shaded windows and driven away as ICE agents guarded the plant entrances. Gonzalez wouldn't say where they were headed other than to say they were being taken to a holding facility.

People leaving the plant told The Hattiesburg American newspaper that so many workers were stopped that operations were shut down. It wasn't clear how many workers the plant employed.

Billy Howard, the company's chief executive officer, did not immediately respond to a message left by the AP. A man who answered a phone call at the company's security station said reporters would have to call back Tuesday.

Howard Industries was founded in the 1960s. In 2002, state lawmakers approved a $31.5 million, taxpayer-backed incentive plan aimed at helping to expand its operations.

The raid is one of several nationwide in recent years.

On May 12, federal immigration officials swept into Agriprocessors, the nation's largest kosher meatpacking plant, in Iowa. Nearly 400 workers were detained and dozens of fraudulent permanent resident alien cards were seized from the plant's human resources department, court records showed.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headli...on/5965197.html

Ah, that's too bad. So much lost revenue.

Of course, these illegals pay billions each year in social security (which they will never see) and payroll taxes and 75% of them pay income taxes.

They only pay FICA,and that's only if they are getting paid by check which most of them do not.

[Ban Hammer 13,355]

She declined to say how many federal agents were involved, but said they acted on a tip provided by a union worker.

and people wonder why unions are dying out.

They may be dying but they have no problems charging high union dues.(I pay $40 a month)

do you feel you are getting your money's worth with that?

[natty bumppo 297]

She declined to say how many federal agents were involved, but said they acted on a tip provided by a union worker.

and people wonder why unions are dying out.

They may be dying but they have no problems charging high union dues.(I pay $40 a month)

The union worker tipped off agents because illegal immigrants are taking union jobs.If you don't beleive me,read this.

http://www.projo.com/news/stategovernment/...34.42cc2d6.html

but ... but .... illegals only do jobs americans don't want to do ....