COURIER 05/16/2008
Detained Agriprocessors workers fight back in court
JEFF REINITZ, Courier Staff Writer
CEDAR RAPIDS - Attorneys for three people arrested during Monday's Agriprocessors raid have asked
the court to bar immigration officials from moving detained workers out of Iowa.
Amy Peck, an Omaha, Neb., attorney, is representing Antonin Trinidad Candido, Roman Trinidad
Candido and Maria Refugio Masias both individually and on behalf of the detained employees.
In court records, Peck said her clients and other workers are victims and witnesses to "exploitative
practices" at Agriprocessors and could be granted visas.
"As victims they would need to participate in the investigations of the alleged crimes and may be needed
to testify as to person experiences," Peck said in the writ of habeas corpus submitted Thursday in U.S.
District Court in Cedar Rapids.
In conjunction with the writ, another attorney, Sonia Parras Konrad, who is representing 34 detainees
submitted a written statement spelling out some of the allegations against Agriprocessors.
"Through the course of my interviews with the detainees, I have received reports of what appear to be
substantial violations by Agriprocessors Inc. of Federal law including wage, labor and immigration
violations," Parras Konrad said in the statement.
She said workers told her the company provided false identification and employment eligibility
documents for employees, withheld $50 from their checks as "immigration fees," and subjected them to
physical abuse.
The workers told her they weren't properly compensated for overtime and weren't allowed to use the rest
room during 10-hour shifts, according to Parras Konrad's statement.
As for those detained by immigration officials, two nursing mothers weren't provided breast pumps for 48
hours to relieve discomfort, the writ states.
Del Refugio Masias and her husband, who is also detained, haven't told of the whereabouts of his
children, ages 2 and 5.
Antonin Trinidad Candido is a minor, according to the filing.
The complaint also said some of the workers have spouses and children who are United States citizens
and may be eligible for immigration relief through family.
It asks the detainees be released or allowed a reasonable amount of time to meet with their lawyers before
being transferred out of Iowa.
Peck couldn't be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.
