Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
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The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
A 26-year-old man from Guatemala has pleaded guilty in federal court to using fraudulent documents in order to obtain employment at Agriprocessors Inc. in Postville.
Carlos Tzirin-Rodriguez, who was not originally detained in the May 12 immigration raid at the plant, was convicted of possessing a resident alien card that was not issued to him and knowingly possessing the identification of another person. The documents, according to court records, were used to gain employment at Agriprocessors, a kosher meatpacking plant in Postville and the site of the nation’s largest single-site immigration raid.
Tim Counts, midwest spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said that Tzirin-Rodriguez was detained on April 15. Because Tzirin-Rodriquez remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing, Counts declined further comment in relation to the case.
In a plea agreement, Tzirin-Rodriguez admitted that he possessed a falsified resident alien card and used the identification of another person without consent. He also admitted to entering the United States on about April 1, 2006, at or near San Ysidro, Calif., with the aid of a smuggler.
Sentencing before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Tzirin-Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in prison and a mandatory consecutive penalty of two years in prison for the charge of using the identification of another person. He also faces $200 in special assessments, and up to three years of supervised release following any prison term.
Roughly one month after Tzirin-Rodriguez was detained, federal agents stormed the Agriprocessors plant in Postville. A total of 389 workers were detained as a part of the immigration raid on May 12. Of those detained, 300 have made plea agreements on criminal charges and most are serving prison time before their ultimate deportation.
Two members of Agriprocessors middle management have been charged with aiding and abetting illegal workers, and have entered a “not guilty” plea. A third indictment for another plant supervisor remains sealed, pending that person’s arrest.
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