Immigration Raids Disrupting Kansas Meatpacking Operations

The Associated Press’ Heather Hollingsworth and Valerie Gonzalez reported that “meatpacking industry groups raised concerns Friday that recent heightened immigration operations in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma have caused employees to miss work, leading to problems at meat-related businesses that could ultimately raise prices for consumers.”

Arrest and charges

“The Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and Kansas Livestock Association said in a statement that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have prompted delays in the shipment of thousands of cattle, resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue,” Hollingsworth and Gonzalez reported.

“The groups say ICE operations have disrupted operations at feedlots, dairy processors, feed and grain companies, and transportation hubs.”

The New York Times’ Kevin Draper and J.

David Goodman reported that “the most recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids occurred in Kansas, near the border with Texas and Oklahoma, and appeared to come without warning or, according to both Kansas senators, cooperation with local authorities.”

“… The enforcement activity began Wednesday morning, local officials said, in an area of southwest Kansas that is sometimes called the golden triangle of beef,” Draper and Goodman reported.

Charges and court proceedings

“The officials said they were not given advance notice and received no information about the number of arrests or the identities of those arrested.”