August 27, 2008 9:50 AM
In the wake of a massive ICE raid in Laurel, Mississippi, concern has grown over the fate of the children of the 595 workers arrested. The local schools say that absences have soared in the aftermath of the sweep, but state social services says it does not know what has become of the children of the detainees.
The electrical assembly plant is one of the largest employers in the rural Mississippi county where it is located. It remains closed and may go out of business as a result of a new law the state enacted taking business licenses away from employers found to be in violation of immigration laws. This could have a dramatic impact on the entire county.
Hispanic-oriented stores have been the first to feel the economic impact. As customers have disappeared, so too have county sales tax revenues. More long-term impacts would be felt if the state law is fully enforced since it would virtually assure the loss of one of the county's largest tax revenue generators. Although some local anti-immigrant activists have applauded the raid saying it will open up jobs for the native born, it is difficult to see where those jobs will be should the factory be closed.
Disturbing details on the raid itself are beginning to emerge. For example, workers say that when ICE arrived they sealed off the exits and separated the workers into two lines, one for Hispanics and one for Whites and Blacks. The Hispanics were further divided into men and women. ICE has developed a practice of stepped up enforcement against male Latinos.