Greeley, Colo. – Agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement returned to at least one Swift & Co. meatpacking plant Tuesday with arrest warrants for people suspected of identity theft in an operation that garnered union support.
Officials with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union said agents did not appear to use the “same level of intimidation and overkill” as raids in December that resulted in more than 1,200 immigrant workers being arrested at plants in six cities.
“To the extent this is the case, the UFCW supports law enforcement efforts that abide by the law and respect the rights of workers,” the Washington-based union said in a statement.
ICE regional spokesman Carl Rusnok confirmed one “worksite enforcement operation” in Greeley, but would not say how many people were arrested.
Dave Minshall, spokesman for Local No. 7, said agents had at least 40 arrest warrants for suspects in Greeley; Cactus, Texas; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Worthington, Minn. Five people were taken into custody, though it was unclear where the arrests were made.
Four people were questioned at the Greeley plant, Minshall said.
Rusnok said details will be released in a news conference Wednesday.
In the December raids, no charges were filed against Swift, a Greeley, Colo., which bills itself as the world’s second-largest beef and pork processor.
