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HYRUM, Utah (AP) -- Many Hispanics in the Cache Valley are living in fear and confusion, a week after federal agents arrested 145 people at a meatpacking plant.
"The message is continue on. You cannot stop," said local activist Rolando Murillo. "People need to go back to work. This is very important because we're disrupting businesses."
The Swift & Co. plant in Hyrum was one of six raided in a crackdown on illegal immigration. Cache County prosecutors filed forgery and identity-theft charges against 58 people, and others are facing immigration violations.
Leaders from churches, social-service groups and the sheriff's department met Monday night.
Local law enforcers are trying to erase a perception that they're bad guys. The sheriff's department had no formal role in the federal sweep at the Swift plant.
"We know there are Latinos who are hiding. ... Don't tell your people to run from us. Tell them to come to school," Lt. Matt Bilodeau said.
The sheriff's office, he said, has a "history with the Latino community of being very fair. We're trying to do what we can for the community."
A local activist, Luis Espinoza, said a group of Swift workers was deported by plane last week, with more likely to follow.
Tony Yapias, chairman of the Utah Hispanic Democratic Caucus, is calling for illegal immigrants to stop using false documents to get jobs.
"Individuals who knowingly are buying Social Security that belongs to someone else, or knowingly taking someone else's identity, need to know that law enforcement is going to come after them very strong," Yapias said.
Although it will take time for tensions to ease, Murrillo said the sweep won't destroy the fabric of the community.
"This is not going to wipe out the Hispanic community in Cache Valley whatsoever. It will not happen," he said.
------ Information from: The Herald Journal, http://www.hjnews.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
