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Three of the 42 contract workers

Contract workers in court for immigration violations
Updated: 7/7/2005 10:45:19 AM
By: Tracey Early & Web Staff

(RALEIGH) -- Forty-two contract workers at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base were in federal court Thursday to face immigration violations and other charges.

A base spokesman says the men were construction workers, and had no access to military files.

Authorities arrested the workers Wednesday morning after becoming aware that they entered the base under false pretenses.

Investigators say the workers are from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and the Ukraine.

Thirty-six have been charged with improper entry into the country. Five face charges of improper entry and having false ID documents. One is charged with having false ID documents as well.

A girlfriend of one worker did not want to reveal her identity but says the situation is unfair. “I truly understand the need to have a secure system but to look at every individual because you have a foreign sounding surname, or you have a different color skin, there's got to be a better way."

Five of the men pleaded guilty to their charges Thursday morning and will now be sent to immigration services.

The judge did not sentence any to jail time.