Texas farmer arrested for using illegal immigrants for free labor

Federal immigration officials raided two labour camps on Maryland’s Eastern Shore at labour camps on Maryland’s shore in 1978 and arrested 71 migrant farm workers who were working illegally.

The group was later sent to Texas for deportation. The raid was part of a routine check on migrant camps that immigration officials have been conducting all summer to keep illegal workers out of field.

Farmers who worked with the migrants said they were surprised the raids had not come sooner. Others said the delayed raids were attempts by immigration officials to keep peace with farmers.

The 400 Spanish-speaking migrant workers left in the camps were waiting for another round of raids to begin, according to a member of the health project.