Minn. Immigrant Rights Group Sues ICE Over Swift Meatpacking Raid

by via Democracy Now

Fri, Sep 28, 2007 8:58AM

Friday, September 28, 2007 : A Minnesota immigrant rights group has sued Immigration and Customs Enforcement over its raid last year on a meatpacking plant owned by Swift and Company in Worthington, Minnesota. The lawsuit claims that federal agents "insulted, abused, and humiliated the plaintiffs on account of their race." We speak with the executive director of Centro Legal, the group that filed the lawsuit.

An immigrant rights group based in Minnesota has sued ICE, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, over its raid last year on a meatpacking plant owned by Swift and Company in Worthington, Minnesota.

On Dec. 12 federal agents raided Swift plants across six states. More than 1,200 undocumented workers were arrested overall, including more than 200 workers in Worthington.

The lawsuit claims that federal agents "insulted, abused, and humiliated the plaintiffs on account of their race." The suit says female Latino workers were ordered to disrobe in front of federal agents during the raid while white workers were allowed to move about the plant freely.

Gloria Contreras-Edin, executive director of Centro Legal, the immigrant rights group that filed the lawsuit. Centro Legal is a non-profit law firm that provides legal services to low income Latinos in the area of immigration law and family law.

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