DULLES, Va. (WUSA) -- Immigration agents met construction workers early Wednesday morning as they arrived on the job at Dulles International Airport. Forty-two men were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. All are accused of being in the country illegally.

Special Agent In Charge Mark McGraw said this operation is "crucial to ICE's homeland security mission". McGraw said they need to know who is entering airports and other critical infrastructure.

Agents waited at a gate for the workers to arrive in buses and other vehicles. About 200 were interviewed.

An airport spokesman said the workers did not have access to secure areas of the airport. Rob Yingling said it is up to the contractors to ensure workers have the proper documentation. Yingling was unable to provide specifics on what role the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has in ensuring the contractors follow immigration laws.

A similar operation at Dulles occurred in 2006.

The National Capital Immigration Coalition has planned a press conference and vigil at ICE's office on Prosperity Avenue at 7:30 PM. The group claims that relatives and friends have been unable to get information about those detained.

ICE says it has a toll-free hotline for that information: 866-341-3858.

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