ICE Arrests More Than 100 Illegal Workers in Decade’s Biggest Raid
August 30, 2018 in News by RBN Staff
Source: Liberty Headlines
‘All of a sudden there was a whole lot of agents coming in with their guns drawn…’
(Joshua Paladino, Liberty Headlines) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted its biggest work-site immigration operation in a decade on Tuesday.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested more than 100 illegal immigrants who used fake documentation to procure employment at a company that manufactures trailers in Sumner, Texas, ICE reported.
HSI began the investigation when it heard a tip that Load Trail was knowingly hiring illegal aliens, and then agents conducted the raid on Aug. 28.
Four years ago, Load Trail paid a $445,000 fine for employing more than 179 illegal immigrants, KXII reported.
“Businesses that knowingly hire illegal aliens create an unfair advantage over their competing businesses,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger of HSI Dallas. “In addition, they take jobs away from U.S. citizens and legal residents, and they create an atmosphere poised for exploiting their illegal workforce.”
Deportation proceedings will move forward for all illegal immigrants arrested.
Immigration Health Services will assess those arrested and decide whether they will be eligible for release on the basis of humanitarian concerns or will remain in custody until deportation.
ICE released five illegal immigrants because they are primary caregivers.
More than 300 federal immigration agents and a few helicopters came to Load Trail on Tuesday morning, KXII reported.
Dennis Perry, a legal worker at Load Trail, told KXII about the operation.
“All of a sudden there was a whole lot of agents coming in with their guns drawn, and told us to get on the ground,” Perry said. “We were in the middle of making our parts for the trailer, and we just happened to turn around just like that.”
He said the agents searched the employees and asked for identification.
If agents found legitimate documentation, then the employees were released.
But ineligible workers were arrested. Those who used fake documents to obtain employment could face fraud charges.
Load Trail will receive fines, but ICE officials did not say if anyone at the company would face criminal charges.