More poultry problems
This time in Batesville, where federal agents raided a Pilgrim’s Pride facility there because of suspected illegal aliens. Imagine that.
Temple Black, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told The Associated Press that the arrests came as part of an ongoing criminal investigation that involved a Pilgrim’s Pride poultry plant in Batesville. Black declined to say how many people were arrested or describe the nature of the investigation.
Independence County Sheriff Keith Bowers said the raid occurred at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Bowers said ICE agents did not tell him what their purpose was in raiding the plant, but said they had a warrant list with about 60 names on it.
Wednesday’s raid is the first for ICE on an Arkansas poultry plant since a July 27, 2005, raid on a Petit Jean Inc. poultry plant in Arkadelphia, according to the AP. That day, agents arrested 119 suspected illegal immigrants.