Yamato Engine Specialists’ Workers Deported
Saturday, December 5th, 2009First they were arrested and faced deportation under what has proven to be the Obama administration’s only workplace raid. Then they were given work permits and told they could stay in the USA while their employer was prosecuted…
Now, the more than 2 dozen undocumented workers arrested during the February raid are again facing deportation.
The deportations and likely removals are a conclusion to a case that displeased both advocates for illegal immigrants and those who lobby for stricter immigration enforcement.
In this case – the company, the workers and even the Seattle US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office that conducted the raid came in for some sort of punishment or special scrutiny
Shortly following the raid, ICE officials traded urgent emails going over Q&A sent by an apparently miffed White House, according to emails obtained by the AP through a federal records request.
In all, 27 workers have been deported; 7 have been allowed to leave the country voluntarily and 15 await court dates with an immigration judge, said ICE spokeswoman Lorie Dankers.