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June 14, 2006
ICE arrests 55 illegal aliens working at secure construction site on grounds of Dulles International Airport
Latest arrests are part of ICE's ongoing efforts to protect nationl critical infrastructure sites WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced the arrest of 55 illegal aliens who were performing contract work at a construction site in a secure area at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C.
ICE agents conducted the operation early this morning as the illegal workers were being bused to the construction location. As the buses attempted to enter through a security checkpoint, the aliens were intercepted by ICE agents who examined their work and immigration documents.
One of the illegal workers was in possession of an airport security badge, known as a Secure Identification Display Area (SIDA) badge, that grants unescorted access to the airport tarmac. The workers arrested today were employed by two construction firms that are involved in a building project at Dulles airport.
"Unauthorized workers employed at sensitive sites and critical infrastructure facilities -- such as airports, seaports, nuclear plants, chemical plants, financial institutions, water and food processing plants and defense facilities -- pose serious homeland security threats. Not only are the identities of these individuals in question, but these aliens are also vulnerable to exploitation by terrorists and other criminals given their illegal status in this country," said ICE Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers.
The arrests were the result of an investigation that began several weeks ago and included the Transportation Security Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority. The investigation continues.
As a result of prior coordination with ICE?s Detention and Removal Operations, the majority of the aliens will be flown tonight to an ICE detention facility in El Paso for removal proceedings. The arrested aliens are from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Bolivia.
Recent Arrests at Naval Surface Warfare Center
In another worksite enforcement operation earlier this week, ICE agents teamed up with investigators from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to arrest 14 unauthorized workers who were performing contract work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Indian Head, Maryland. All of the individuals were arrested administratively and are in removal proceedings.
There is no indication that any of the individuals arrested in the operations at Dulles International Airport or the Naval Surface Warfare Center were involved in any terrorist activity. The arrests at these two locations were the latest in a string of operations and investigations by ICE designed to remove illegal workers from sensitive sites and critical infrastructure locations around the country.
-- ICE --
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.
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