Dozens of suspected illegal immigrants were taken into custody by federal agents Thursday morning during a raid in Scranton.
Agents went to a company that makes equipment for the military, rounding up about one-third of the people there and taking them into custody.
Employees said they heard a knock at the door at North American Manufacturing, stopping production. The company makes field and ammunition packs and cots for the U.S. military.
Police blocked the street and federal agents went in about 8:15 a.m. Company officials estimate they took out about 40 of their 120 first-shift workers.
Antwan Garner is an American citizen. He was inside putting together a military cot when it all happened.
"They asked for all the American citizens to go to one side of the room and all the immigrants to the other side, and they did a little test looking at people working. A lot of things went down today. This was crazy," Garner said.
Click for larger image
Suspected illegal immigrants were loaded into a waiting van.
Many suspected illegal immigrants were led out by Immigration and Customs enforcement agents.
Several family members and friends watched as the workers were led into a waiting bus and van. George Guevara's mother was not taken away but his cousins were.
"They're not criminals you know, just working. Me, I've been here for seven years, you know. I'm legal in this country but either way, they look at us the same way, you know, whether we're legal or not legal," Guevara said.
North American Manufacturing officials said some of the employees taken into custody were long-time workers. They said they were shocked to see immigration agents arrive and said they never expected anything like this,
especially because the company has checked the identification and social security cards of all of their 135 workers.
The immigration office in Washington D.C. has not commented about the number of arrests or about any charges.
The plant manager at North American Manufacturing Plant said he has heard from his employees that all the women who were taken into custody have been released but the men were taken on a bus to the immigration office in Philadelphia.
At this point, there is no word if they are coming back.http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=7265058&nav=menu158_2
2007-10-25 12:04:40 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Any company that does work for the military has a higher obligation to ensure all that work for them to be in this country legally. Just because they have been long time employees, does not change the fact they are here illegally. Letting the women go was while holding the men is a bad policy. If those men or women had children, there should be a official to take those children to their parents in detention. Those that say that the illegals have done nothing wrong, want to gloss over fact that the useing stolen or fraudulent SSN is a crime
2007-10-25 13:17:47 · answer #1 · answered by jean 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Immigration is now being related to due complaints of citizens alleging unequal opportunities, employment conflicts and tax problems.
2007-10-25 12:32:53 · answer #2 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Another 'raid' that looks like it was carefully planned to elicit sympathy for illegals? or another case of selective reporting and spin?
2007-10-25 12:54:49 · answer #3 · answered by B.Kevorkian 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is a start for enforcement why didn't they take the women also>If there illegal>
2007-10-25 12:43:33 · answer #4 · answered by 45 auto 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Actually, they are criminals because they broke the law. That makes you a criminal. If only the government would do more "raids"....
2007-10-25 13:19:27 · answer #5 · answered by Patrick S 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i wonder whose ssn they were using? it's almost too good to be true 2 days of good news. i'm beside myself. they keep it up and the ones ICE doesn't grab will leave on their own and they said it couldn't be done.
2007-10-25 14:05:48 · answer #6 · answered by T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh cry me a river...just here working maybe but ILLEGAL! they are criminals. send them all back. I have no pity for them at all.
2007-10-26 05:32:42 · answer #7 · answered by LadyAmerican 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they are illegal, hopefully they will be deported ASAP
Excellent, simply excellent.
2007-10-25 13:24:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Great go team. Now only about 30,000,000 of them to go.
2007-10-25 13:53:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
WORKS FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!
EVERY CITY SHOULD DO THIS DAILY. MAYBE THEN THE ILLEGALS WOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT COMING HERE!!!
2007-10-25 13:06:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋