680 arrested in immigration raids

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A U.S. Border Patrol agent watches as people who’ve been taken into custody related to cases of illegal U.S. entry stand in line at a facility in McAllen, Texas, on June 17. Associated Press/U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Rio Grande Valley Sector

Immigration officials have released dozens of the 680 people arrested Wednesday at Mississippi food plants. A large-scale raid targeted illegal immigrants at seven chicken processing facilities. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement said it would release detainees who met certain conditions such as pregnant women or those who hadn’t faced immigration proceedings previously.

How significant was this raid? Acting ICE Director Matthew Albence said the raids could be the largest-ever workplace operation in any single state. “This is a long-term operation that’s been going on,” he said.

Dig deeper: Read Charissa Koh’s coverage of Christian kindness to immigrants at the border in Compassion.

Lynde Langdon

Lynde is WORLD’s executive editor for news. She is a graduate of World Journalism Institute, the Missouri School of Journalism, and the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Lynde resides with her family in Wichita, Kan.

@lmlangdon