More ICE Raids Possible

In addition, ICE (immigration, Customs Enforcement) Special Agent also said yesterday that investigations are ongoing and that more arrests and are possible.

Meanwhile, the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) strongly condemned the raids as "harsh and unwarranted, especially since they involve hard-working people who show up daily at their jobs." Jimmie Reyna, national president, also called for a moratorium on actions that: "entrap on the basis of race or color."

Reyna expressed concerns about what criteria was used to identify Latinos working at the meat packing plants.

"Reportedly, 'non-Latinos' and light-skinned employees were provided blue wristbands, which exempted them from questioning, while 'Latinos' -- persons perceived to be of Hispanic or Latino origin -- underwent immigration processing” and “the raids occurred less than two weeks from the Christmas holidays and resulted in the separation of families, including children."

"Does this mean that, by law, all Latinos and only Latinos should carry citizenship papers?" He asked. "We don't think so. The government should immediately call for a moratorium on further raids until it determines how to eliminate 'dragnet enforcement' that entraps on the basis of race or color."

Also outraged was Vice President Mark Lauritsen of the United Food and Commercial Workers, UFCW, union saying the workers were “victims of wholesale violations of worker rights" and a "failed immigration system" that led to the illegal immigrants' children being "orphaned."

The HNBA, a non-profit, non-partisan legal association represents 38,000 Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, students and legal professionals. Reyna said they are currently reviewing the raids to see if official investigations are warranted by the Department of Homeland Security.