BOSTON -- Help could finally be on the way Thursday for hundreds of children who were left without parents in a massive immigration raid.

It all started when 327 of the 500 workers at Michael Bianco Inc., were arrested Tuesday in New Bedford.

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NewsCenter 5's Steve Lacy reported that state Department of Social Service workers will be able to meet with the detained immigrants -- most from Guatemala and El Salvador -- at Fort Devens.

"There was a gentleman who I just finished speaking to that, he's worried. He doesn't know exactly where his wife is at. So there is a lot of confusion and concern," immigration assistance worker Helena Marques said.

More than 300 undocumented workers, mostly women, were taken into custody Tuesday by federal agents who raided a leather factory in New Bedford. As many as 210 children may have been separated from their parents as a result and many of the workers taken into custody may be afraid to admit they have children for fear the children will be deported.

"I've never seen so many people panicking and we've been getting bombarded with phone calls from family members, and people who aren't [family] just wondering what is happening to their families and husbands wondering when are their wives coming home to join their children," Marques said.

Wednesday, Gov. Deval Patrick said he was told of the immigration raid at the factory, but was told that he could not share the information with state social services.

"I was notified and instructed by federal authorities to keep that information to myself," Patrick said.

Since then, DSS workers have been forced to play catchup and try to reunite families in what many are now calling a humanitarian crisis.

"We are particularly concerned about the Guatemalan community and the risk that they may be fearful about disclosing the existence or whereabouts of their children given their history with government agencies," Patrick wrote in a letter asking U.S. Rep. William Delahunt to ensure federal authorities allow social workers access to the detainees.

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry said he was asking federal officials to work with the state to locate parents of stranded children and secure their release as soon as possible. Some 60 parents have been released on humanitarian grounds.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said no children were stranded.

In the raid, company owner Francesco Insolia, 50, and three top managers were arrested. A fifth person was arrested on charges of helping workers obtain fake identification.

Authorities allege Insolia oversaw sweatshop conditions so he could meet the demands of $91 million in U.S. military contracts to such products as safety vests and lightweight backpacks.

Investigators said the workers toiled in dingy conditions and faced onerous fines, such as a $20 charge for talking while working and spending more than two minutes in the bathroom.

An Army spokesman did not return a call seeking comment about the status of the company's contracts.