Feds arrest 7 workers in raids (Arundel Digest)

Feds arrest 7 workers in raids
Published 02/05/10

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials served search warrants at three county businesses Thursday, arresting seven people from Honduras.

Ernastine Fobbs, an ICE spokeswoman, said officials raided three locations late Thursday morning.

County police said officers assisted ICE at the Red Parrot Asian Bistro at 7698 Dorchester Blvd. in Hanover at about 10:30 a.m. Fobbs confirmed that ICE served one of the three warrants at that location.

Because the investigation is ongoing, Fobbs declined to identify the other two places that were raided or say how many arrests took place at each business. But she confirmed that seven people were currently in ICE custody.

Wendy Chang, owner of the Red Parrot Asian Bistro, said she did not know some of her employees were working in the country illegally. "We have a Thai chef that hired some people that we really didn't know," she said. "They told us they had the proper papers."

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Federal Building in Baltimore Thursday to demand that the detained workers be allowed to speak with their attorneys, according to Tania Del Angel of Casa De Maryland.

Leaders of Casa De Maryland hoped those arrested would be released on recognizance within 24 hours.