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Federal Lawsuit Against Swift Raid Planned

Union Employees Say Civil Rights Violated

POSTED: 9:52 pm MDT August 26, 2007
UPDATED: 11:03 pm MDT August 26, 2007

Immigration and customs enforcement officials could see a federal lawsuit.

The Food Union said ICE officers and agents violated worker's rights during the raid at the Swift plant in Greeley in this past December.

Sunday, Union members joined together in honor of labor day. Union representatives explained to workers how they plan on fighting for their legal rights.

Workers said everyone including American citizens had their civil rights violated.

"Several people ask permision to go to the bathroom," said Erica Deharo, an employee at Swift. "and they told them 'no, you are going to have to do it where you are'...it was horrible and they didn't care."

Union members said workers were also denied food and water for hours.

"They violated everybody's rights," said Joann Lopez, a Union Representative. "It wasn't only the immmigrants, it was everybody's rights. They violated everybody's rights."

"What they did that was illegal," said Fernando Rodriguez, the Union Director. "They did a group detainee."

The Union said they hope their lawsuit with prevent similar raids in the future.

"We want it not to happen to anybody ever again," said Rodriguez. "That everybody has their civil rights here in the United States."

A spokesman for ICE said the actions taken by ICE officers and agents were fully within the law. The spokesman said all rights were respected, due process was given to everyone and these allegations are baseless.

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