Nearly 600 Detained in Mississippi Plant Raid

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed a federal criminal search warrant yesterday at Howard Industries, Inc., an electric transformer manufacturing facility. The ICE agents raided the Howard Industries plant located in Laurel, Mississippi, causing panic among Hispanic families in this small southern Mississippi town.

It has been the largest single-workplace immigration raid in U.S. history has  where federal agents rounded up nearly 600 plant workers suspected of being in the country illegally. Many families worry about when they will see family members again.

Of those arrested, approximately 106 were identified as being eligible for an alternative to detention based on humanitarian reasons. These individuals will still be required to appear before a federal immigration judge who will ultimately determine whether or not they will be deported. Eight criminal cases have been accepted for prosecution by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. The criminal cases are focused on charges of aggravated identity theft and are in the custody of the U.S. Marshal's Service. The other cases are being handled via administrative law procedures at the Department of Homeland Security. Approximately 475 were transported to an ICE facility in Jena, Louisiana where they will await the outcome of their case.

ICE has established a local telephone number for family members to find out more information about the detention status of those arrested. Family members may call: 1-866-341-3858.