Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention and Raid Picks Up Speed

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 33 illegal immigrants on May 8, who were working at new U.S Federal Courthouse site on Richmond, Virginia. The raid came after the agency began investigation on information that the construction contractor was employing illegal immigrants. All of the detained individuals are undergoing deportation proceedings; two are facing criminal charges for falsifying documents and re-entering after deportation.

In a press release, ICE said that the detained are citizens of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru.

After the “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” proposed by President Bush collapsed last year after strong public opposition to the plan to provide path to citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants already in the United States, there has been rise in anti-illegal immigrant sentiments and also raids by ICE to apprehend those without proper documents.

Four days after the Virginia action on May 12th, ICE along with Department of Justice searched Agriprocessors, Inc. in Postville, Iowa. They had search warrant for evidence for aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of Social Security number and illegal immigrants. 300 people were arrested and are now being questioned by ICE agents and local health officers if they have medical or caregiver concerns. So far 40 people have been released after the interview.

In April, Pilgrim's Pride poultry plant in five states-Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee and West Virginia were target of immigration raids. Around 300 were arrested, according to the Associated Press. Spokesman for the company said that they cooperated with the authorities and are not being charged.

As ICE is going full speed ahead with immigration raids and detentions, many are questioning where the actions are any help to solving America's immigration crises.