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Feds raid Sun Valley, 18 workers arrested
By
JOHN C. OSBORN
, The Eureka Reporter
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided Sun Valley Floral Farms
in Arcata Wednesday morning arresting 18 workers who they allege were
not legally allowed to work in the country.
Approximately 40 federal agents arrived at Sun Valley Floral Farms in an
estimated 12-vehicle motorcade around 10 a.m. Wednesday to execute a
federal search warrant at the business.
Wednesday’s raid came as a result of an ongoing investigation that
started with a tip to ICE, said ICE spokesperson Virginia Kice.
Over the past 10 months, Sun Valley Floral Farms has been working with
ICE to comply with federal immigration laws, including providing its
employees’ work eligibility forms when asked.
On June 6, the company let go of 283 employees hired after Social
Security numbers found on the work verification forms came up with no
match.
When ICE notified the company on Aug. 25 that 40 employees recently
hired couldn’t work in the U.S. — the company let them go on Tuesday,
said Sun Valley Group Owner Lane DeVries in a statement Wednesday.
Federal agents raided the company on Wednesday in a search of 52 workers
ICE sought to detain, he said. Although DeVries said the company had the
“utmost concern and compassion” for their employees, they had to respect
the law.
“We are cooperating fully with ICE,” he said. “In light of this
cooperation, we are extremely disappointed that ICE has chosen to
escalate their approach to working with us on their concerns, as they
have today.”
Agents surrounded the facility in Arcata, stopping vehicles that tried
to leave to check if those inside matched a list of names and
photographs.
During the raid, agents brought out handcuffed workers and led them
toward one of several white vans with the windows covered. The vans
ferried detainees between the farm and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station
Humboldt Bay in McKinleyville, where they were being held for
questioning and processed by agents.
Those that had medical issues or child care responsibilities, would be
released on their own recognizance, but expected to go to an immigration
hearing.
Three of the arrestees were freed for such reasons, while another was
turned over to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office as he had a warrant
out of Southern California, Kice said.
As of press time, 14 workers remained in custody and were being
processed by agents. If any of them are found to have a criminal record
or a previous deportation, Kice said they would be transported to one of
ICE’s detention facilities.
“We utilize a network of facilities here in Northern California,” she
said.
At least one arrested worker from Palau, a Pacific island nation, was
caught up in the sweep but turned out to be eligible to work in the
U.S., which Kice said was an unusual situation.
While agents searched the Sun Valley property, concerned community
members gathered outside of the farm.
At one point during the raid, a line of three people joined hands and
stood in the road as they tried to block a van with detainees from
leaving. After being blocked for several minutes, the van turned around
and exited the property elsewhere. At least two Humboldt County
Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived shortly after.
Sun Valley Floral Farm employee Dabreion Hill stood outside the facility
in shock from the raid.
Hill said agents arrested most of the people he “spent time in the
trenches” with, including his boss, who had worked at the farm for seven
years.
“My crew, they wiped us out,” he said. “I consider them all friends, not
criminals.”
Aside from friends being arrested, Hill said he had to leave work early,
working only a half day.
“It’s bad for us because we got bills to pay,” he said.
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