Nebraska:Workers detained as feds target alleged conspiracy to exploit illegal labor

Federal immigration enforcement officers swept into this rural area, detaining dozens of workers from a local tomato greenhouse complex, a potato processing facility and a cattle feedlot. In Nebraska and elsewhere, the operation by Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials snared 133 workers suspected of being in the country illegally, as well as 17 people connected to an alleged conspiracy to exploit illegal labor for profit, fraud and money laundering.Federal search warrants were served as far away as Las Vegas and Minnesota in connection with the conspiracy. One man was led in handcuffs out of an O’Neill Mexican restaurant, and search warrants also were served at businesses or farms in Ainsworth, Bartlett, Royal and Stromsburg.