BOSTON -- Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has intervened with federal officials in an effort to help hundreds of undocumented workers who were separated from their children when they were detained after a raid at a New Bedford leather factory Tuesday.

He said he asked them to stop flying undocumented workers out of Massachusetts until the state can make sure their children are properly cared for. About 150 workers have already been flown from the former Fort Devens military base to a detention center in Texas, the governor said.

NewsCenter 5's Rhondella Richardson reported that Patrick said he wanted federal authorities to stop deporting workers until the state can try to help the families and their children.

"I urged the federal government to stop all flights out of Fort Devens immediately until we can be assured that all parents have been identified and appropriate arrangements made for their children and dependents," Patrick said.

Federal authorities halted a third flight that was scheduled to depart at noon, he said.

The state has made a phone hot line number available for families that were separated by the raid. The number is 1-800-792-5200.

Patrick said he wanted to make sure that everyone affected by the raid is accounted for. On Tuesday, 327 of the 500 workers at Michael Bianco Inc., in New Bedford were detained by federal agents and taken to Fort Devens. Most of the workers were women from El Salvador and Guatemala and it was estimated that 210 children were left stranded in schools, day-care centers or with babysitters.

"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," social service worker Helena Marques said.

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 for 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.