Posted on Thu, Nov. 01, 2007

30 suspected illegal workers in custody

BY HARRY FRANKLIN - hfranklin@ledger-enquirer.com
Federal agents converged on the National Infantry Museum construction site Tuesday morning, snaring 30 suspected illegal immigrants, some as they tried to flee.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents went to the 3800 S. Lumpkin Road site at 7:30 a.m. after getting a tip that illegal workers might be there, ICE spokesman Richard Rocha said Wednesday.

"There were some individuals who tried to escape," he said. "There were two who we were able to apprehend in flight. We worked with the employer, who helped us ask the employees to come down off the site."

Rocha said the agents presented a search warrant and asked employees to provide IDs on the suspected immigrants.

"Those who couldn't, it was determined that they may be here illegally," he said.

The suspects who were arrested were bused to the Stewart Detention Center near Lumpkin, where they are awaiting hearings to determine whether they will be deported.

The museum is being built by Batson-Cook Co. of West Point. Project Executive Paul Meadows said the arrested workers were all employees of subcontractors, not Batson-Cook. He said masonry, fireproofing, metal stud and other contractors were working there Tuesday, including local and out-of-town subcontractors.

Meadows said he didn't know how many workers were on the site or how many employees the project has had on site for the last few days.

"We'll hit the road running," he said. "I do not expect the project to be delayed. It's a special project for Columbus and for Batson-Cook. We take great pride in this project."

He said federal laws govern the employment of illegal immigrants.

"You have to have certain documentation from the federal level before you hire somebody. You have to have an I-9 form and have proper identification. The federal government lists what that proper ID is."

Meadows said Batson-Cook abides by the law, "and we expect our subcontractors to also follow all federal and state laws as well," he said.

Meadows said the company is cooperating fully with federal agents, and that no citations have been issued. He said the case is still under investigation, and his company will wait to see what happens with the immigration hearings before determining whether the company needs to take any action.

A museum spokeswoman said this is a Batson-Cook matter and referred questions to the company.

Rocha could not say how long the 30 individuals had been on the work site, whether they have previously been picked up in the United States or whether the employers could face charges. He said the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Georgia will likely determine whether to charge any of the workers.

Twenty-seven of the arrested workers are from Mexico and three from Guatemala, he said.

They will be held in the Stewart Detention Center, operated by Corrections Corporation of America, until an immigration judge determines whether they are deportable. Rocha said it can take up to a month to complete the process and a hearing would be held before then. If they are found to be here legally, they could be released, unless they face other charges in the United States.

Rocha said background checks, including fingerprint checks, are done on arrested individuals to determine whether they face charges or have criminal history.

"If agencies are looking for them, we contact the agencies to find out how we can best help," Rocha said.

These arrests come nine months after 24 workers were arrested by ICE agents while trying to enter Fort Benning to do construction work on soldiers' barracks. Twenty-one were found to be in the U.S. illegally.
© 2007 Ledger-Enquirer and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.


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