U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a targeted labor enforcement operation in coordination with various federal, state, and local agencies.
The raid took place at a private company and two construction sites located in South Texas and was conducted in a single day as part of a strategy to reinforce public safety and combat the illegal hiring of workers without immigration authorization.
Background checks and criminal charges for Hispanics
As a result of this action, 31 people were detained for violations related to U.S. immigration laws.
During the operation, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – ICE’s investigations division – conducted criminal background checks on the detainees.
Agents confirmed that several of those arrested had prior felony convictions, which aggravated their legal situation.
Among the crimes committed by some of the detainees are:
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Aggravated sexual assault
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Bodily injuries
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Possession of controlled substances
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Parole violations
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Evasion of arrest or detention
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Transportation of non-citizens
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Domestic violence with strangulation
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Terrorist threats against family or household members
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Possession of weapons in gun-free zones
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Unauthorized use of vehicles
Nationalities of those arrested and next legal steps
The detainees are citizens of Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador and were illegally present in U.S. territory.
All of them have been taken into ICE custody and are currently awaiting removal or deportation proceedings before immigration courts.
This type of operation also seeks to hold employers accountable.
Federal law requires all persons hired in the United States to present valid documentation verifying their identity and work authorization, using Form I-9.
ICE conducts Form I-9 inspections as part of a program to ensure compliance with immigration labor laws, deter the hiring of unauthorized workers, and protect the legal labor market.
These inspections are considered an effective tool of the federal government to enforce labor and immigration laws.
ICE: Investigation beyond immigration status
Workplace investigations not only focus on the immigration status of workers, but can also reveal additional crimes such as:
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Smuggling of foreign persons
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Trafficking in persons for labor or sexual purposes
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Money laundering
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Falsification or fraud of documents
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Labor exploitation
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Violations of wage standards and undignified working conditions
Las políticas migratorias de Trump han ocasionado que el ICE incremente y endurezca los operativos contra los indocumentados en todo el país
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Inter-agency collaboration
Buzzy
El operativo fue liderado por HSI y contó con el apoyo de múltiples agencias, entre ellas:
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Operaciones de Control y Deportación de ICE
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Administración de Control de Drogas (DEA)
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Oficina de Alcohol, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos (ATF)
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Patrulla Fronteriza de Estados Unidos (USBP)
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Oficina de Operaciones de Campo de CBP
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Operaciones Aéreas y Marinas de CBP
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Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Webb
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Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Zapata
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Departamento de Policía de Laredo
Este operativo refleja los esfuerzos continuos del gobierno federal para controlar la inmigración ilegal en el entorno laboral y proteger tanto la seguridad pública como los derechos laborales.
Para la comunidad hispana, este tipo de acciones subraya la importancia de regularizar el estatus migratorio, conocer los derechos en el lugar de trabajo y estar informados sobre las consecuencias legales que pueden derivarse de trabajar sin autorización o con documentos falsos.
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