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Dozens Arrested in Illegal Immigration Raid in Wright County

By Ashley Hinson

Story Created: Sep 14, 2007 at 3:08 AM CST

Story Updated: May 12, 2008 at 10:41 AM CST

DES MOINES (AP) - Fifty-one workers were arrested during an immigration raid at six DeCoster egg farms in Wright County. Those farms are where agents have conducted several other raids in recent years.

Tim Counts is spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He says the workers, most of them from Mexico, have been transported to various detention facilities in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and elsewhere. A judge will decide their fate at deportation hearings in Omaha, Nebraska.

Federal agents conducted the 2.5 hour raid Wednesday. Counts said some of the workers, including some juveniles and parents, were released and told to appear for their scheduled hearing.

Austin ``Jack'' DeCoster, founder of DeCoster Farms, has previously been investigated by ICE for using illegal workers. Agents have raided his farms at least four times since 2001.

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