Raid rumors fuel fear among immigrants - By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ, AP Wire
Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Dean Boyd said the agency has received hundreds of calls about immigration raids in recent days. Such rumors are typical after a raid like the one last week in which more than 1,000 employees of pallet manufacturer IFCO were arrested at more than 40 company sites nationwide, he said.
'However, we don't conduct random sweeps,' he said. 'All our arrests are the result of investigations, evidence and intelligence.'
ICE officials acknowledged they have stepped up arrests under their 'Operation Phoenix,' an existing program to find and deport fugitive illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
Many wondered whether the rumors would deter people from national immigration protests planned for Monday.