The Enquirer - Feds: All detained illegal

The Enquirer - Feds: All detained illegal

Released for humanitarian reasons???? Ship the whole lot back and get taken care of in their home country!!!

Feds: All detained illegal

BY WILLIAM A. WEATHERS BWEATHERS@ENQUIRER.COM

All 161 people taken into custody Tuesday during a federal raid at Koch Foods in Fairfield have been identified as illegal aliens, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesman said today.

The detainees are from eight different countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and Peru.

Eighty of those detained remain in ICE custody, spokesman Greg Palmore said. Another 20 have been charged with state offenses, including forgery and taking the identity of another, and are in custody in the Butler County jail, he said.

The remaining 61 were released for “humanitarian reasons,” Palmore said.

They were either the sole caregiver or had medical concerns, he said.Those released were given notices to appear before an immigration judge at a future date, Palmore said.

As far as any possible charges against Koch Foods, Palmore would only say: “The investigation is continuing. It’s ongoing.”

Chicago-based Koch Foods said the company is “fully cooperating” with customs enforcement officials.

“As part of our standard employment process, we require employees to provide documentation in accordance with the law, and we have implemented a program to audit this documentation,” the statement reads. “Koch Foods is committed to complying with all immigration laws, and we look forward to resolving the matter quickly.

''The poultry packing plant resumed its normal business operations at the Fairfield plant on Tuesday evening.

In light of the federal raid, a bilingual toll-free helpline at 888-227-0124 has been established by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The number is staffed by job and family services employees who can provide assistance and referrals to individuals affected by the raid. The call center number is operating from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until further notice.

Depending on the specific need, callers will be referred to resources in their local communities.

“ODJFS, in conjunction with our county partners in and around Butler County, are dedicated to helping those in need,” said director Helen Jones-Kelley. “We want families, elderly and children to know there is a place in their community where they can turn for assistance.”