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May 23, 2007

136 workers apprehended after worksite enforcement at George's Processing poultry-processing plant as part of an ongoing criminal investigation

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.– U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) special agents apprehended 136 individuals yesterday as part of an ongoing investigation into identity theft, Social Security fraud and a variety of immigration-related violations. The individuals, who were suspected of being in the country illegally, are employees of George’s Processing Inc., a poultry-processing plant located in Butterfield, Mo. Interviewing for administrative arrests was still underway today. The criminal investigation is ongoing.

Of those apprehended yesterday, 31 were released for humanitarian reasons. They will be given notices to appear at a later date before an immigration judge.

The aliens were encountered when ICE and SSA-OIG agents executed two federal criminal search warrants as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into identity fraud and employment of illegal aliens. The United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri has previously charged five individuals, who have been arrested, convicted or pleaded guilty in separate cases as a result of this investigation, including: 

  • Esperanza Piedrasanta-Oxlaj, indicted on May 17 for Social Security fraud.
  • Arnoldo De La Cruz-Garcia, pleaded guilty on April 12 to Social Security fraud. 
  • Jose Rivera-De Anda, pleaded guilty on April 12 to making a false claim of U.S. citizenship and  Social Security fraud. 
  • Luis Cruz-Flores, pleaded guilty on March 7 to aggravated identity theft and Social Security fraud.
  • Pedro Diego-Catalan, pleaded guilty on Aug. 29, 2005, to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

“These worksite enforcement actions help reduce the job magnet that encourages aliens to enter the country illegally,” said Pete Baird, assistant special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Kansas City. “This case is particularly troubling due to the existence of Social Security and identity fraud in addition to the numerous immigration-related violations.”  Baird’s office covers Kansas and Missouri.

Of those arrested yesterday, 88 are from Guatemala and 48 are from Mexico.  Fifty-three of the Guatemalans are men and 35 are women.  Of the Mexican citizens, 24 are women and 24 are men.

Those arrested on administrative immigration charges were transported to detention facilities in Wichita, Kan., Kansas City, Mo., and St. Louis after being processed.  Hearings before federal immigration judges will be held in Kansas City, Mo.

ICE agents interviewed all of those arrested to record any medical, sole-caregiver or other humanitarian situations. In addition, medical professionals from the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, are conducting medical screenings of each individual; PHS professionals have questioned each alien about childcare needs as well. Each person arrested was given a sheet, in English and Spanish, with contact information for the Barry County Division of Family Services.  In all cases, the illegal aliens are fingerprinted and placed in proceedings for removal from the United States.

Family members of illegal aliens who were arrested in yesterday’s operation may call ICE’s toll-free family hotline regarding detention and the removal process. The phone number is: 866-341-3858.

Assisting ICE and SSA-OIG with the arrests were officers and agents from the following agencies:  Missouri Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshals Service’s Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This investigation and enforcement action are part of ICE’s mandate to enforce the nation’s immigration laws.  In the last two years, ICE has prioritized cases involving national security and public safety threats, as well as egregious criminal violations, such as identity theft and Social Security fraud, as are alleged in this case. 

Criminal charges are not proof of guilt. Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty. This criminal case is still under investigation.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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