ICE Agents Raid Processing Plants

Federal ICE agents stand guard at the entrance of at a Swift & Company meat processing during a raid of the plant in Greeley, Colo., Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006. Federal agents raided meat processing plants in six states Tuesday and arrested an unknown number of suspected illegal immigrants in an identity theft investigation, temporarily suspending operations at all six plants. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (Ed Andrieski - AP)

Grand Island Police Chief Steve Lamken said he refused to let his officers take part in the raid.

"When this is all over, we're still here taking care of our community and if I have a significant part of my population that's fearful and won't call us, then that's not good for our community," he said.

The nationality of the immigrants was not clear Tuesday night, but the Mexican government released a statement pledging to ensure that any of its citizens in the raid have "their human rights fully respected, and are given all the necessary assistance, orientation and consular protection."

In a statement, the department asked U.S. authorities to allow Mexican representatives to visit detainees, and announced plans for visits to all six meatpacking plants.

ICE officials said the total number of arrests might not be released until Wednesday.

It was not clear how long the plants were shut down.

ICE has raided poultry plants in the South in search of illegal immigrants. In July 2005, nearly 120 people were arrested at a plant in Arkadelphia, Ark. Three months ago, agents arrested a similar number who worked at a plant in Stillmore, Ga., or lived nearby.

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Associated Press Writers Jennifer Talhelm in Washington, Paul Foy in Salt Lake City, Oskar Garcia in Omaha, Neb., Don Mitchell in Denver and Betsy Blaney in Lubbock, Texas, contributed to this report.