MOULTRIE — All 25 Sanderson Farms workers apprehended last week in Moultrie on charges of violating immigration law had been released by Monday, a Department of Homeland Security spokesman said.
The workers, all of whom are residents of Guatemala and Mexico, were taken into custody Friday as part of a work force site operation, Ivan Ortiz said.
The investigation is continuing and no determination has been made about whether Sanderson Farms will face any sanctions, Ortiz said.
“The company has been fully cooperating in our investigation,” he said.
Sanderson Farms did not return calls made on Friday and Monday seeking comment.
Of the 25 workers who were apprehended, 10 were released for humanitarian reasons because they were the sole caregiver for their children, Ortiz said. The remaining 15 have posted bail.
All of the workers were interviewed prior to their release and will have to appear at hearings.
The action was taken at Sanderson Farms’ processing operation on U.S. Hwy. 133 to determine whether targeted workers had authorization granted by DHS to work legally in the United States, Ortiz said. It did not target all employees but was aimed at specific workers.
He would not say whether a tip from the public led investigators here, but said that information from law enforcement and tips are among the agency’s sources of information.
“We do not conduct random operations,” he said. “These are targeted. We had already identified people we were going to interview. I’m not at liberty to discuss how we began this operation.”
Local News
25 Latino workers face hearings by Homeland Security
- Local News
-
-
2 men charged in 10 burglaries
The arrests of two Moultrie men clears up no less than 10 burglaries from around the county, sheriff’s office investigators say.
Traviskius Sentrell Pate, 29, of 2903 Sylvester Drive, and Freddie Joseph Ross, 20, of 843-A Sixth Street Northwest, were charged Thursday morning with 10 counts each of burglary, according to Colquitt County sheriff’s investigator Shannon Hart. Hart said more charges are possible. -
State rests its case
Prosecutors in the trial of five accused gang members wrapped up on Thursday, but jurors will not begin deliberating the facts of the case until next week.
-
Ryan CAN walk at graduation
A Colquitt County high school senior, who has been taking classes at home because of a developmental disorder, will be able to walk at graduation Saturday after the county board of education reversed an earlier decision barring him.
-
July 31 election taking shape
The second day of qualifying for the July 31 election saw the first two head-to head competitions take shape.
-
Rec Dept. to offer swim lessons
The Moultrie-Colquitt County Recreation Department is set to once again offer swimming lessons to the children in the community.
- Accident sends 1 to hospital
- Your agenda 5/25/12
-
2 candidates qualify for sheriff, District 2 county commissioner
The first day of qualifying set up two contested races in Colquitt County, but voters won’t decide on them until November. Qualifying, which began Wednesday, will continue through noon Friday.
-
Thieves make off with thousands of dollars in jewelry
Several thefts reported to the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office recently add up to thousands of dollars in loot, including a theft of jewelry estimated at almost $14,000.
-
Hail falls in Omega
- More Local News Headlines
-
VH1's 'Single Ladies' Launches Season 2
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
NJ Official: NYPD Muslim Surveillance Legal
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
Hurricane Forecast: 15 Named Storms Expected
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Search Intensifies for Missing Louisiana Woman
Bloomberg: Man Implicates Self in Etan Patz Case
