Brandon Hudson
U.S. Border Patrol Arrests Undocumented Workers

Posted: Nov 13, 2008 03:28 PM PST

Updated: Nov 13, 2008 04:27 PM PST

What started as a tip soon led to the arrest of five people outside the Handy Suites Hotel in Essex Junction, Vt., Thursday morning.

"One of our units went down," Special Operations Supervisor Brad Curtis said. "We encountered these five subjects in the parking lot -- determined yes in fact they were illegal in the United States."

They were staying at the hotel and working across the street on the new Lowe's.

"Once they're done being processed, they'll be moved over to immigration and customs enforcement and they will be put in deportation proceedings," Curtis said.

Damon Hall works with local contractors. He says more companies are hiring more illegal immigrants as a high risk, high reward move.

"Companies are cheating and scurting laws in order to lower their bids and win the projects," Hall said.

With the increasing number of in-state workers losing out, Hall says it's a matter of time before Vermont joins neighboring states in fighting this problem.

http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=9346767