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The wheels of justice are turning for the 31 Pilgrim’s Pride workers arrested last week on immigration violations and criminal charges including identity theft and document fraud. Twenty-seven workers were detained on criminal charges; two were charged with administrative violations of immigration law. Two workers were detained but later released, under supervision, for humanitarian reasons. Details of their cases were not made public, but the workers may have health problems or be caregivers, said immigration officials. The two workers may be charged at a later date.

Barbara Gonzalez, spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said those charged criminally have been taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service. Those arrested on administrative charges remain in ICE custody and are housed in detention facilities in South Florida.

“They will go before an immigration judge who will determine whether they are eligible to remain in the country,” Gonzalez said.

The two released for humanitarian reasons are to later report to ICE for further action.

Federal immigration agents raided Pilgrim’s Pride plants in five states April 16 and arrested hundreds of workers as part of an ongoing operation.

According to ICE, workers are suspected of committing identity theft and other crimes to gain employment.

ICE reported that the final number of employees taken into custody was 311, though estimates had ranged as high as 400. Pilgrim’s Pride plants were also raided in Mt. Pleasant, Texas; Batesville, Ark.; Moorefield, W.Va.; and Chattanooga, Tenn.

Ray Atkinson, director of corporate communications for Pilgrim’s Pride, said the company cooperated in the investigation and that the workers arrested were hourly, non-management employees.

“No civil or criminal charges have been filed against the company,” he said last week.

Atkinson said all Pilgrim’s Pride locations use a government database to determine employment eligibility in the hiring process, though that system doesn’t detect identity theft.

Local law enforcement was not involved in the arrests, but the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office sent deputies as back-up during the operation.