ICE announced this week that it has arrested over 1,000 illegal alien workers since President Donald Trump took office on January 20th.
Homeland Security Investigations acting Executive Associate Director Robert Hammer said this is the highest arrest rate in its history.
“We’ve subpoenaed the business records of about 1,200 businesses, and as part of our review, we’ve proposed close to $1 million in fines,” Hammer explained.
This historic enforcement comes after Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office, declaring that America follows existing immigration law.
“Businesses that exploit and hire illegal workers are harming the American public,” Hammer said. “ICE’s statutory duties include protecting Americans and enforcing more than 400 laws that relate to immigration, so there are two aspects to our worksite enforcement operations.”
This week, the federal government filed a civil forfeiture complaint against suspects who allegedly made $126 million from money laundering and hiring illegal immigrants. These suspects allegedly smuggled Chinese and Mexican illegals into America, where they worked at many Fuyao Glass America facilities around Ohio. Federal authorities say there are an estimated 40 suspects.
ICE last month raided a worksite in Louisiana that allegedly used 11 illegal alien workers as general contractors in a construction project. The illegal aliens were identified as having come from Mexico, Nicaragua, and Ecuador.
Also in March, federal authorities arrested four illegal aliens allegedly working at a Pennsylvania meat market.
In February, ICE arrested 16 illegal aliens in New Jersey who allegedly worked at a warehouse.
“Knowingly hiring illegal aliens is a crime, and the federal government will prosecute business owners who exploit alien workers,” the ICE press release says. “Employment eligibility verification ensures legal compliance and protects employers from potential consequences.”
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at zschmidt1717@gmail.com. Follow Zachery on Twitter @zacheryschmidt2.
