Brandon Montgomery with public affairs for ICE headquarters in Washington, D.C., said federal officials are continuing the processing of those detained at Howard Industries’ Laurel (Pendorff) plant and its (Ellisville) headquarters.

Montgomery said 350 Howard employees have been identified as illegal immigrants.

Velez said he has been informed that some of those detained are being released with a monitoring device.

Montgomery said 50 of the 350 illegal immigrants identified have been determined to be “eligible for alternative to detention status based on humanitarian matters.”

Montgomery said eligibility for alternative detention is determined on a “case by case base. It could be a person who has a parent who is sick, the person could be pregnant, be a nursing mother or have many other factors.”

Montgomery said those eligible for alternative to detention are not being detained by federal officials, but they “still have to report to court at a set time.”

Attorney Robert Ogletree met with family members of those arrested Monday evening. Ogletree, who said he has met with members of the Hispanic community in Laurel before, said he was asked by several local people to offer advice.

“I’m here to pray with them, to cry with them, to answer their questions as best I can, to explain the process as best I can,” Ogletree said.

Ogletree said the 300 people detained will be processed through the federal system. The 50 eligible for alternative to detention status will be monitored in a way similar to house arrest.

“They will obtain history, where they came from, how they came to the United States,” Ogletree said. “Hopefully they’ve been advised of their right to obtain legal council.”

Ogletree said the 350 people will more than likely be given court dates in either New Orleans or Oakdale, La. The 300 not eligible for the alternate monitoring will more than likely be detained in facilities, such as jails, that are under contract to house detainees. He said they will appear before judges for bond hearings and bond is usually set between $1500 and $10,000.

Ogletree said his main concern is for the families impacted.

“You have a mother and father subject to deportation, but have children who are American citizens,” he said. “It’s my belief it creates an extreme hardship on the children.”

There was no word as to the impact the operation will have on local schools. Pastor Velez said there are many Hispanic students in the Laurel School District and also at West Jones Elementary School.

Laurel School District Superintendent of Education Dr. Glenn McGee said the district had not been contacted by federal officials.