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ICE agents rounded up suspected illegal workers at Pilgrims Pride processing plants downtown. The raids are the result of a criminal investigation that began last year.
More than 400 workers across the country are suspected of committing identity theft and other crimes.
ICE agents conducted several of these raids across the country, here in Chattanooga they interviewed and removed workers from two of the company's chicken processing plants.
[0]Pilgrim's Pride ICE raids
Several Homeland Security vans hauled off workers from plants on Market and Broad Streets. ICE agents photographed, fingerprinted, and processed everyone who was arrested.
Leticia Zamarripa, ICE Spokesperson, "If they're determined to be in the country illegally, they will be placed into removal facilities and taken to detention facilities, the females will go to one and the males to another."
Workers stand accused of stealing SSN's so they could get jobs at Pilgrim's Pride. Pilgrim's Pride cooperated with the investigation. Those arrested were allowed to call family members. Special consideration is given to those who have children and those who suffer from a medical condition.
Zamarripa, "These individuals will be considered to be released on humanitarian concerns however they will still have to go before an immigration judge."
After that hearing the judge will then determine if the person can remain in the country. Dalton radio DJ David Hernandez received lots of calls when the raids began, he says many people in the Hispanic community are concerned.
Hernandez, "The people are scared, we know they're doing their job. I don't know what's going to happen now, a lot of people are going to think twice to go to work."
ICE has set up a hotline if you need information about those detained in the raids, call 1-866-341-3858
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