Vol. 72/No. 49      December 15, 2008

Some 389 workers were rounded up in the raid and 297 were sentenced on federal felony charges for having improper work papers. Workers described being treated “like animals” after being arrested and taken to the National Cattle Congress fairgrounds in Waterloo, Iowa. They reported agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement held a party at the Cattle Congress to celebrate the raid.

“We want to work. We don’t like living on charity,” said López Byron, a former Agriprocessors worker. Prior to his arrest he was making $7 an hour in the chicken kill and working 15 to 16 hours a day, six days a week. He was released from Leavenworth Prison in Kansas after five months.

The released workers have been ordered by a federal prosecutor to stay in the United States so they can testify against former supervisors at Agriprocessors. “We believe the government wants to use us then deport us,” said Byron, originally from Guatemala. The workers have received a one-year work permit and are waiting for additional documentation so that they can work.

Byron said workers wanted to take off work on May Day 2006 to join the actions for legalization of undocumented workers, but were told they would be fired.

The event here was sponsored by St. Bridget’s Catholic Church. After hearing one of the workers speak, Menchú asked if she could see the electronic ankle bracelet he was forced to wear. Dozens of former Agriprocessors workers left their seats and surrounded Menchú to show their bracelets.

The Agriprocessors plant, which employed around 900 workers at the time of the raid, closed its doors in mid-November after declaring bankruptcy.
 
 
Related articles:
Workers vote for union at Utah plant raided by ICE in 2006
Haitians protest against deportations in Florida  
 
 
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