4/22/2006

Don't Take That Take This.


(koin.com) North Portland Immigration Raid

Arrests Could Signal Start Of A National Crackdown

PORTLAND -- Federal immigration agents raided a North Portland pallet manufacturing plant, arresting 21 suspected illegal immigrants. The raid was part of a nationwide crackdown targeting more than 40 such operations across the country. They're owned and run by IFCO Systems North America, the nation's largest pallet service company.

Nationwide, the coordinated raids netted 1,187 IFCO employees suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. Agents also arrested seven current and former IFCO managers.

The federal agents surrounded the Portland plant on North Lombard Street, then asked the plant manager for consent to search the place. They had already secured the perimeter and were in a position to stop anyone trying to get out.

The manager gave permission, and the agents quickly moved in. Although 21 employees were detained, no Portland managers were arrested.

Virginia Kice of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) said 20 of the 27 employees on the Portland site did not have proper work authorization, and had entered the country illegally. One other person was arrested who happened to be there applying for a job when the federal agents moved in.

The plant was back up and running Friday, using mostly temporary workers and managers.

So moving on to matters that actually matter in this world,

COMING FROM RICHARD BLADE, THE MOST RELIABLE OF SOURCES, LAST NIGHT ON SIRIUS 22: THOMPSON TWINS TO POSSIBLY REFORM AND TOUR.