Federal immigration agents executed civil search warrants this morning at the Swift & Co. meat processing facility in Hyrum, Cache County, and at five other Swift facilities in other states.

The warrants allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to search for and apprehend illegal alien workers as part of a work site enforcement investigation that started in February, according to a release by the federal agency.

The investigation has uncovered an identity theft scheme in which U.S. citizens and lawful residents' identities were stolen in order to gain employment at Swift, ICE said.

Sam Rovit, president and CEO of Swift, said in a statement that the Greeley, Colo.-based company participates in a federal program to verify the work eligibility of its employees.

"Swift has never condoned the employment of unauthorized workers, nor have we ever knowingly hired such individuals," Rovet said.

A company statement said the six affected facilities had been temporality shut down while federal agents conduct "employee interviews." The beef and pork processing company had yet to assess what impact the investigation would have on its business or operations.

An arrest total wasn't immediately available. ICE reported that aliens are being arrested on administrative immigration violations and, in some cases, existing criminal arrest warrants. Additional criminal charges of aggravated identity theft and other violations may also be brought.

The facilities under investigation are at Hyrum; Greeley; Grand Island, Neb.; Cactus, Texas; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Worthington, Minn.

---

E-mail: dbulekely@desnews.com