LATEST: Several hundred individuals arrested during an immigration roundup across Mississippi, leaving their children without parents in some cases, have been released, ICE spokesman says.
Several hundred individuals arrested during an immigration roundup across Mississippi on Wednesday, leaving their children without parents in some cases, have been released, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman said Thursday.
ICE Southern Region Communications Director Bryan Cox defended the agency's handling of the matter on Thursday, saying as arrests were made, those detained were allowed to make arrangements to have their children picked up and that schools were notified."This is horrifying -- and it’s happening right here, right now," the American Civil Liberties Union wrote on Twitterin the wake of the arrests.
The operations took place at seven work sites -- all agricultural processing plants -- in six different cities, and involved more than 600 agents, according to officials. “In order to make it possible for arrestees to contact other family members and address childcare issues, HSI procured cell phones that are available at the processing site for use by arrestees to make arrangements for the care of their children or other dependents,” Cox said.
According to an ICE news release: “As part of HSI procedures pursuant to this operation, if HSI encountered two alien parents with minor children at home, HSI released one of the parents on humanitarian grounds and returned that individual to the place from which they were arrested. HSI similarly released any single alien parent with minor children a home on humanitarian grounds and physically returned that person to the place where he or she was originally detained.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
ICE released 300 of the 680 detained in raids at Mississippi food processing plantsU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 680 people at food processing plants in small towns near Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday.
Read more »
ICE raids sweep up 680 undocumented immigrants across MississippiThe raids hit seven food processing plants in six cities. They're believed to be the biggest single-state, one-day ICE operation in U.S. history.
Read more »
ICE raids Mississippi food plants, nearly 700 undocumented migrants rounded upBeto O'Rourke on ICE arrests of nearly 700 undocumented immigrants working at Mississippi processing plants: 'The cruelty knows no bounds.'
Read more »
More than 300 released after ICE arrests nearly 700 in Mississippi raidsActing ICE Director Matthew Albence told The Associated Press that the raids could be the largest such operation thus far in any single state.
Read more »
Mississippi immigration rights group reacts to ICE arrestsJACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, UNITED STATES – Mississippi Immigrants’ Rights Alliance (MIRA) holds a news conference after U.S. Immigration authorities arrested nearly 700 people at seven agricultural plants across Mississippi. Possible speakers include: Bill Chandler, Executive Director; Patricia Ice, attorney for MIRA.
Read more »