Thread: Camp Pendleton contractor workers arrested by ICE

http://www.kfmb.com/story.php?id=55145

Federal Agents Arrest Suspected Illegal Workers

Last Updated:
06-28-06 at 3:26PM

Nearly a dozen workers suspected of being in the U.S. illegally are awaiting deportation to Mexico Wednesday after being arrested in immigration raids.

They were taken into custody at their homes Wednesday morning. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents say they used fake Social Security and alien registration numbers at Burtech Pipeline.

Burtech Pipeline in an Encinitas business that provides contract services to Camp Pendleton.

None of those arrested Wednesday worked directly at the base.

http://www.mercurynews.com

Posted on Wed, Jun. 28, 2006

Agents arrest illegal immigrants working for Pendleton contractor

THOMAS WATKINS
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO - U.S. agents arrested 22 illegal immigrants Wednesday who worked for a company that provided services to the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base.

The workers, all Mexican men, were arrested at their homes by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during an early morning sweep.

Agents were looking for 72 illegal workers employed by Burtech Pipeline, Inc., an Encinitas-based business that had a contract at Camp Pendleton, the base near Oceanside that is home to some 40,000 military personnel, ICE spokeswoman Lauren Mack said.

None of those arrested had worked at Camp Pendleton, but Mack said some of the remaining 50 may have.

Mack said Burtech's contract at Camp Pendleton ended last year. She said employees could have gained access to the base with their employee identity cards.

The arrests are part of an ICE clampdown on private contractors in San Diego County. Since 2003, ICE agents have screened some 900 companies connected to the military and nearly 30 percent of the firms employed illegal workers, including two companies that hired illegal workers to repair warships.

"It is a significant problem," Mack said. "We have no way of knowing what their true identity is or what their motives are if they are using false documents."

Representatives for Burtech Pipeline and Camp Pendleton did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

During the sweep, 17 other illegal immigrants were arrested for reasons unrelated to Burtech, Mack said.

This is also going to happen soon on the east coast. Camp Lejuene, Cherry Point, Paris Island all need to clean their houses.