Immigration Investigation into Waste Management, Inc. Office

Updated: Tuesday, 24 Apr 2012, 11:04 AM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 24 Apr 2012, 9:52 AM CDT
ALEXANDER SUPGUL
Web Producer

HOUSTON - Agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are assisting with an ongoing investigation into the Waste Management, Inc. office in northwest Houston.

ICE agents arrived around 6 a.m. Tuesday to the office on Afton Street near Long Point Road and took 16 people to be processed at the Houston Processing Center on Export Plaza Drive near Greens Road.

Of the 16 people taken into custody, seven were from El Salvador, six were from Honduras, two were from Mexico, and one person was from Nicaragua.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is leading the investigation.

Waste Management, Inc. released the following statement on Tuesday morning:

Waste Management is cooperating with immigration officials to address this morning's action at our facility, and we have begun an investigation to review the situation.

None of the individuals involved or detained are Waste Management employees. In instances where we use third-party temporary staffing companies, we require strict compliance with all applicable employment and immigration laws and regulations.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released the following statement on Tuesday morning:

On Tuesday, April 24, 2012, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed court authorized enforcement action at Waste Management Inc. During the execution of the enforcement action, 16 individuals were arrested for administrative immigration violations. An arrest for an administrative immigration violation means that the individual either is illegally in this country or has violated the terms of their legal entry into this country, and therefore is subject to deportation. None of the 16 individuals were arrested on criminal charges."

Immigration Investigation into Waste Management, Inc. Office