All 161 people taken into custody Tuesday during a federal raid at Koch Foods in Fairfield have been identified as illegal immigrants, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman said Wednesday.
The detainees are from eight countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and Peru.
Eighty of those 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 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. [Wake Up America notes--"Any bets on whether they will show up in front of the judge?"]
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 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."
Wake Up America also has posted a news release from the ICE, which says,
"Unlawful employment is one of the key magnets drawing illegal aliens across our borders," said Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for ICE. "When illegal aliens use fraudulent documents or engage in identity theft, they not only exploit a vulnerability, they also cause real harm to U.S. citizens. We will pursue egregious violators by seeking criminal charges and continue to deploy tools such as the new social security no match guidelines to help businesses comply with the law."One small step at a time!
