Thread: San Diego: 9 illegal workers employed at military contractor

9 illegal workers employed at military contractor

By Leslie Berestein
STAFF WRITER

April 20, 2007

An ongoing audit of companies contracting with the military has turned up nine undocumented workers employed by Classic Party Rentals, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said.

According to the agency, the company has contracted with Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. Five women and four men, all Mexican nationals, were arrested yesterday morning at the company's Mira Mesa office and have been placed in removal proceedings.

All had presented false identification to obtain work, said ICE spokeswoman Lauren Mack. The company was audited as part of Operation Safe Cities, a federal program launched in late 2003 to check local companies that contract with agencies connected to national security.

To date, Mack said, more than 35,500 individual employee records have been audited at more than 1,300 companies in San Diego and Imperial counties. More than 870 unauthorized workers have been identified and 550 people arrested.

The agency began auditing contractors at Miramar about two months ago, Mack said. A spokesman for the base said he was aware of the audits. A company official could not be reached by phone yesterday.

A roughly yearlong audit of contractors at Camp Pendleton, which ended last fall, turned up 413 unauthorized workers, and 168 people were arrested.

So far, only one contractor busted as part of Operation Safe Cities, Riverside-based Golden State Fence Co., has faced criminal penalties. Its two principals were sentenced to probation in March.

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