Federal agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency,
or ICE, descended onto the Howard Industries factory early on Monday.
They separated all Latino workers from their white and black
co-workers, arresting nearly 600 people. Initial reports of the raid
noted 350 workers had been arrested. But on Tuesday, federal officials
revised the number to 595.
An estimated 475 workers were taken by bus to a detention center 200 miles away in Jena, Louisiana. They have not yet been charged with any crime. A smaller group was released with electronic monitoring ankle bracelets on “humanitarian” grounds. Only eight of those arrested have been charged with aggravated identity theft. Reports indicate that the Howard plant has closed its doors for now, after losing three-fourths of its workforce.
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