Thread: Suspected illegal immigrants arrested at saddle factory

SULPHUR (AP) - Federal agents arrested 51 suspected illegal immigrants who were working at a saddle factory here, authorities said Wednesday.

The arrests occurred while agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Social Security Administration were executing search warrants at businesses associated with Billy Cook's Harness and Saddle, ICE officials said in a news release.

Thirty male and 21 female Mexican citizens, ranging in age from 18 to 60, were arrested after it was determined they were residing and working in the United States illegally, ICE officials said.

"ICE is aggressively pursuing illegal aliens at the places where they work," said John Chakwin, special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Dallas. "The aliens arrested today will be quickly processed and ultimately returned to Mexico.

"However, if we discover any aliens with outstanding criminal warrants, they will be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agency so they can answer to those charges."

ICE has arrested 445 individuals on criminal charges in worksite investigations and apprehended another 2,700 of their illegal workers on immigration violations, officials said.

Good.