POSTVILLE, Iowa — Federal immigration agents in northeastern Iowa have arrested at least 300 people in a raid on the world's largest kosher meatpacking plant.

U.S. Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth says the raid on the Agriprocessors Inc. plant in Postville is the largest operation of its kind in Iowa history and followed months of planning.

Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement entered the plant looking for evidence of identity theft, stolen Social Security numbers and people in the country illegally.

Sister Mary McCauley, a Roman Catholic nun, says family members of plant workers were coming to her nearby church in tears.

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ICE spokesman Tim Counts says those arrested could be released on humanitarian grounds if they are a primary caregiver to a child.

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