DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ A federal judge still faces a challenge from a supervisor who was arrested after a massive immigration raid at a kosher meatpacking plant.

Martin De La Rosa-Loera appeared in federal court late last month in Cedar Rapids. He pleaded guilty under an agreement with prosecutors to aiding and abetting the harboring of undocumented immigrants.

The 43-year-old was arrested in July following a federal raid two months earlier at Agriprocessors Inc. in Postville.

His attorney, Thomas McQueen, said Wednesday that despite the plea agreement the motion for recusal stands and Chief Judge Linda R. Reade for the Northern District of Iowa should step down before sentencing.

He says that's because Reade helped in planning part of the raid and because she spoke to the press about it.

Prosecutors argue that De La Rosa-Loera's case is separate and the judge shouldn't step down.