WASHINGTON - Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, is seeking answers about an investigation into labor practices at Agriprocessors in Postville in light of this week's raids.

Braley sent a letter Thursday to Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and other federal officials requesting information on the status of an ongoing Department of Labor investigation into the Postville plant.

Braley was responding to media reports that the Department of Labor was conducting an investigation - independent of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's investigation - into possible labor law violations, including illegal child labor, at Agriprocessors.

"I would like to know whether ICE communicated with DOL prior to the enforcement action on May 12. Also, what is the status of these DOL investigations?" Braley wrote. He also asked what coordination was going on between the Department of Labor, ICE and the Department of Justice.

"It is important that both the ICE and DOL investigations continue. I firmly believe that any possible violations of labor law, immigration law and workplace safety laws should be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Braley wrote.