Thread: UT: 50 workers arrested in immigration raid at business

50 workers arrested in immigration raid at Utah County business
Russ Rizzo and Jennifer W. Sanchez



Fifty workers at a Utah County metal factory were arrested this morning during a surprise immigration raid.

That comprises half of the employees at Universal Industrial Sales in Lindon, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, which today released previously sealed indictments charging the company and its human resource manager with harboring illegal aliens.

About 100 Immigration and Customs Enforcement showed up unannounced at the company’s warehouses about 8 a.m. and began arresting workers, said ICE spokesman Tim Counts.

By 11 a.m., agents had arrested 50 people, according to the Department of Justice.

The company produces metal highway signs and guard rails. Company officials are cooperating with the investigation, Counts said. Managers could not immediately reached for comment.

Workers found to be in the country illegally will be taken by van to the Provo ICE office to be processed and then to the Utah and Weber county jails, Counts said. They will then have hearings in front of federal immigration judges.

Relatives drove around the company’s building and stopped to ask officials questions about the people they knew who might have been arrested. One man said he started getting phone calls about 8 a.m. from friends who worked at Universal and said an immigration raid was happening.

The company, housed in a large red building, sits in an industrial area amid open fields in Lindon, a small town located between Pleasant Grove and Orem.

ICE agents this morning contacted the Utah Health and Human Rights project and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services to help take care of children who may be left home alone following the raid, Counts said.

“Everyone will have the opportunity to make other arrangements to makes sure there is another parent or responsible adult to take care of their children,â€

Well we need several of these a day!!

Why are not more of these raids being done all across this country.

They need to start arresting some of the managers as well for hiring these illegals. This is the only way this problem is going to be solved. These managers have to fear possibly going to jail when they hire an illegal.