Thread: 34 immigrant workers arrested at Memphis airport

34 immigrant workers arrested at Memphis airport

Updated: March 26, 2008 08:53 AM

Federal officials have arrested 34 workers at Memphis International Airport believed to be illegal immigrants working on the new Tennessee Air National Guard base.

Immigration agents tell Action News 5 that the men were employed by various contractors on work crews building the new National Guard Air Base at Memphis International Airport.

Authorities said the arrests came after a tip from Air Force investigators that believed illegal immigrants were working at the site.

Federal officials say the men likely face deportation.

"We'll take their fingerprints, their photographs. We'll run their backgrounds through the ID systems to see if they have any outstanding warrants, to find out if they've committed any other crimes besides being in the US illegally," official Temple Black said.

Authorities have not said which company employed the workers. If the men are not involved in any other crimes, they will be deported back to Mexico.

The project to build a 118-acre, $215 million base for the Tennessee 164th Airlift Wing near the airport is the largest single construction effort in the Air National Guard's history.

There was no word if the contractors involved will face a legal action or fines for employing the men.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.wmctv.com/global/story.asp?s=8070768

I think this should be in the News and Stories Section airborne