International News

ALMA, Arkansas (AP):

The US Department of Homeland Security has detained at least two dozen people suspected of living in the country illegally after raiding a northwestern Arkansas food-processing plant.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents served a search warrant Wednesday morning at the Bryant Preserving Co. in Alma. The warrant was for an existing criminal investigation, but ICE spokesman Bryan Cox wouldn't provide further detail.

Agents took into custody more than two dozen people suspected of living in the US illegally. Cox said Wednesday that he doesn't have a specific number of detained employees because some were still being processed and others had since been released.

"If there is some violation of federal immigration law, we do not turn a blind eye," he said.

Bryant Preserving employs between 45 and 65 people, according to company President Phillip Bryant. The canning company released a statement saying it's not a subject of the investigation.

About 20 of the employees who ICE took in were women, said Mary Medina, a volunteer for Arkansas United, an immigration advocacy group.

SANTA FE, Texas (AP):

The attorney for the parents of a teen accused in a Texas school shooting that left 10 people dead and 13 wounded is disputing allegations that they were negligent, saying they did what they could for their son.

Attorney Ron Rodgers filed responses Monday to lawsuits against Rose Marie Kosmetatos and Antonios Pagourtzis, 'The Galveston County Daily News' reported. The lawsuits allege they didn't teach their son, 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, respect for life and failed to secure their weapons.

Pagourtzis has been indicted on capital murder charges in the May 18 shooting at Santa Fe High School.

The first lawsuit against the parents was filed May 24.