http://www.herald-sun.com/state/6-658295.html

Senators question tactic in N.C. immigration arrests

Oct 18, 2005 : 6:27 pm ET

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Five U.S. senators have questioned a ruse used in July by federal immigration officials to arrest dozens of immigrants working without proper documents at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.

The immigrants on construction crews were told to attend a safety meeting, but 48 were arrested once they arrived.

The senators said in a letter written Monday to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff that they support efforts to enforce the law.

"But we cannot condone operations, such as the one conducted in Goldsboro, that put both American and foreign workers at risk by generating distrust of important workplace safety agencies like OSHA," the letter said.

Democratic Sens. Russell Feingold of Wisconsin, Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Patty Murray of Washington and Patrick Leahy of Vermont, along with Sen. Jim Jeffords, I-Vt., signed the letter.

The ruse was an accepted law enforcement tactic that was used for the safety of the workers and the officers involved, said Jamie Zuieback of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She also said the agency said it would coordinate future operations with OSHA if it involved using the agency's name.