http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3162728

Illegal immigrants held at bases
Kelly Rush, Staff Writer

Dozens of illegal immigrants have been arrested by federal officials at Fort Irwin, a Barstow Marine base and other military institutions around the country, where they had been employed by contractors.
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Department of Defense agents detained the workers at the Army's Fort Irwin Training Center and the U.S. Marine Corps Logistics Base, both near Barstow, according to a press release issued by the customs agency.

Undocumented workers also were detained at installations in Louisiana and a missile range in New Mexico.

Customs officials said they are targeting illegal immigrants working at sensitive sites around the nation, including defense facilities, nuclear plants, chemical plants, airports and seaports.

"Unauthorized workers who gain access to sensitive U.S. military installations through fraudulent documents or other methods pose serious homeland security threats," ICE Acting Assistant Secretary John Clark said in the release. "Not only are their identities in question, but they are also vulnerable to potential exploitation by terrorists and other criminal organizations given their illegal immigrations status."

On Wednesday, federal agents took six illegal aliens into custody who were trying to enter Fort Irwin, a desert warfare training facility, to do contract work there, the release said.

Base security contacted the federal agency after questioning the validity of documents the workers presented as they tried to enter the base.

Customs agents processed the workers and have begun removal proceedings.

Also Wednesday, agents took one illegal alien into custody who was trying to enter the Marine base in Barstow, the release said.

The man reportedly presented a fraudulent driver's license and Social Security card to officials there. An investigation is continuing.

On Aug. 26, six Mexican nationals were arrested at Fort Irwin. The men were working illegally for Laurence-Hovenier Inc., a construction company building military housing at the base.

The workers, most of whom had security badges authorizing them to enter the base, were identified after agents audited the hiring records of more than 700 company workers. The audit found that more than 40 percent of the employees on the company's payroll may not have been authorized to work in the U.S., according to the release.