400 Nabbed in Illegal Immigration Operation (WCTV-Florida)

400 Nabbed in Illegal Immigration Operation

Last Updated: 10:24 PM Apr 17, 2008
Reporter: Lanetra Bennet

Pilgrim's Pride is now reporting that approximately 30 illegal employees were arrested at its Live Oak plant -- not 15 as originally reported Wednesday.
Mexican native Eliseo Perez says he's saddened that some 30 illegal immigrants working at Pilgrim's Pride in Live Oak were taken into custody.
He calls them good men.
"Immigration take Spanish people for report to Mexico--no good. We Mexicans no terrorista, no bad men, those are good men."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say they were engaging in
immigration-related crimes, including identity theft in order to gain employment with the company.
Live Oak resident Rosell Aretha Darling said,
"I think everybody need to have a chance, a fair chance. But you need to do it the right way."
The Live Oak plant was part of a nationwide crackdown...
Wednesday morning, federal agents also took action at Pilgrim's Pride processing facilities in Arkansas, Tennessee, West Virginia and Texas.
A corporate representative says a total of approximately 400 employees were taken into custody.
Live Oak resident Gordon Thomas said,
"They're doing what they should be doing rounding up illegals, so they said."
Perez says all he has is his Mexican Navy I.D, but says for the past three years he's been in Live Oak working in the pine fields.
"We like to work, only work, only work." Said Perez.
Thomas said, "If people are going to come here, they should get proper documentation."
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation released this statement:
"We share the government's goal of eliminating the hiring or employment of unauthorized workers. We have terminated all of the employees who were taken into custody."
The U.S. Attorney's Office says all those arrested yesterday wed. 4/16 were hourly,
non-management employees.
No civil or criminal charges, have been filed against the company in any of these cases...including charges that Pilgrim's knowingly hired these employees or conspired to hire them.