Up to 350 in custody after New Bedford immigration raid
Dan Stein
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
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By Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
An army of 300 federal immigration agents raided a New Bedford leather manufacturer today and arrested the company's owner and three managers on charges that they hired illegal workers to meet labor demands fueled by millions of dollars in contracts with the US military.
During the early morning blitz, agents also took into custody up to 350 employees who had been working at Michael Bianco Inc., a waterfront factory that employs about 500 people, predominantly immigrants from Guatemala and El Salvador. Some employees fled when agents stormed the building, and helicopters hovered overhead to alert authorities of escape routes, said Corinn Williams, executive director of the Community Economic Development Center in New Bedford, which has been fielding calls from worried immigrants.
An army of 300 federal immigration agents raided a New Bedford leather manufacturer today and arrested the company's owner and three managers on charges that they hired illegal workers to meet labor demands fueled by millions of dollars in contracts with the US military.
During the early morning blitz, agents also took into custody up to 350 employees who had been working at Michael Bianco Inc., a waterfront factory that employs about 500 people, predominantly immigrants from Guatemala and El Salvador. Some employees fled when agents stormed the building, and helicopters hovered overhead to alert authorities of escape routes, said Corinn Williams, executive director of the Community Economic Development Center in New Bedford, which has been fielding calls from worried immigrants.
posted by jillosophy at 3/07/2007 11:59:00 AM
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