Raw aerials of the scene

HOUSTON—Dozens of people are in custody after federal immigration agents raided a Houston doughnut plant.

The agents and Harris County sheriff’s deputies arrived about 5 a.m. Wednesday at the Shipley Do-Nuts dough factory on Norhill and N. Main in the Heights.

The more than 20 workers arrested are suspected illegal immigrants.

An employee told 11 News that it takes typically about 30 employees run the business.

Reports now indicate that only seven employees are left attempting to run the business as best they can.

Tharon Bush was among the workers still left at the business. “It affected ‘em a lot cause I developed a bond with a  lot of these guys here you know and they was like family to me.”

All the commotion caught the attention of the neighborhood.

“There were helicopters undercover police and everything,” said Susana Martinez who witnessed the activity.

11 News photo

People are put into vans outside the warehouse.

People working at nearby businesses say that the multi block facility had seemed odd.

“Everything always seemed so secretive to me,” said Sheryl McCall who works in the area.

Derek Shumake lives across the street from the place.

He confirms what federal officials are saying in that workers lived on the facility. “It’s marked by barb wire fences. Shipley’s compound (is) what they call this whole area here.”

The four-block plant prepares dough for use at Shipley’s Houston-area doughnut shops. It includes a dormitory for workers.

In fact, there are trailer homes and houses on the property.

The Harris County Appraisal District lists many of the properties as belonging to members of the Shipley family.

“They say they’re not allowed to talk to anybody. They’re real quiet nobody waves they mostly work at night, probably midnight to 6 or 7 in the morning,” said Shumake.

Agents did not enter any residences. 

Wednesday’s searches and seizures were confined to the business facility.  Shipley has some 200 donut stores across the south.

They supply businesses in Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama.

Hours after the raid, a group began protesting the raid downtown.

About 12 people, members of the groups FIEL and CRECEN, organized the protest.

Both Hispanic organizations are calling for a moratorium on these raids.

Raid at Ark. poultry plant

Federal agents also raided a north Arkansas poultry plant over suspected immigration violation. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Temple Black confirmed the arrests to The Associated Press. He says they’re part of an ongoing criminal investigation that involves Pilgrim’s Pride’s Batesville, Arkandas, poultry plant.

Independence County Sheriff Keith Bowers said the raid happened around daybreak Wednesday. He says his office secured the plant gates but took no part in the raid itself.

Pittsburg, Texas-based Pilgrim’s Pride had no comment.