Feds hold hearing on New Bedford immigrant raid

BOSTON - A commission investigating immigration raids at a series of Iowa meatpacking plants in 2006 is visiting Massachusetts to take testimony about last year’s raid at a New Bedford leather goods plant.

Some 361 workers at Michael Bianco Inc. were detained, splitting up families and creating other hardships as federal ICE agents enforced immigration laws.

The National Commission on ICE Misconduct and Violations of the 4th Amendment was formed by the United Food & Commercial Workers, which represented many of the Iowa workers.

Among those testifying at a Statehouse hearing Monday were Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and Sen. John Kerry.

In his remarks, Murray said the United States is a nation of laws "and we need to ensure that all people are treated with dignity and fairness."