Four arrested in immigration investigation at Osaka

SJ-R.com
By Rhys Saunders
February 29, 2012

Four people were arrested for immigration violations Wednesday at Osaka Japanese Restaurant, 1665 Wabash Ave.


Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant as part of a criminal worksite enforcement investigation, according to Gail Montenegro, a spokeswoman for the agency.


The four people taken into custody were not identified.


Harry Stirmell, village president of Jerome, where the restaurant is located, said Osaka reopened after the arrests were made Wednesday afternoon.


“It wasn’t an investigation on the restaurant as such,” Stirmell said. “It was a check they do on illegal immigrants in the United States.”


Stirmell said he was told that those arrested did not have any proper documentation, but he did not have details.


A State Journal-Register reporter was told the restaurant’s owner was not available and no one at the restaurant could comment.


Montenegro would not discuss the investigation further. She directed the media to ICE’s website for more information.


According to the website, investigations such as this target both illegal immigrant workers and employers who knowingly hire illegal workers.

Investigators look for evidence of mistreated workers, trafficking, smuggling, harboring, visa fraud, identification document fraud and money laundering.


“ICE will obtain indictments, criminal arrests or search warrants, or a commitment from a U.S. attorney's office to prosecute the targeted employer before arresting employees for civil immigration violations at a worksite,” the website states.


Osaka — a combination of Japanese steakhouse, Thai restaurant, sushi and martini bar that has become extremely popular — was opened in November 2009 by Jeremy Martin and Chin Cheung. It is at the former location of Cohen's Furniture, which was heavily damaged in 2006 by tornadoes that swept through the area.

Four arrested in immigration investigation at Osaka - Springfield, IL - The State Journal-Register