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August 29, 2006

ICE arrests 15 aliens in Roswell working for U.S. military contractor

ROSWELL, N.M. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents today arrested 15 illegal aliens who were working for a local company here that is under contract to paint U.S. military aircraft, including Lockheed C-130 military aircraft.

Some of the aliens were in the process of painting these aircraft when they were arrested.

Federal agents today executed a search warrant at Dean Baldwin Painting Inc., 82 Earl Cumming Loop, Hangar 1083, in Roswell, N.M. ICE was assisted in the investigation by the following agencies: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Department of Labor; Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol (CBPBP).

The aliens were arrested after they were determined to be illegally residing and working in the United States. Those arrested are citizens of Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala.

"Aggressive worksite enforcement actions like this help deter aliens from entering the United States attracted by the 'job magnet,'" said Troy Henley, special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in El Paso. "These operations also help discourage employers from knowingly hiring illegal aliens."

Knowingly hiring illegal aliens is a violation of immigration law. ICE aggressively pursues criminal charges against employers who egregiously violate theses laws. Thus far this Fiscal Year (through mid-July 2006), ICE worksite enforcement investigations have resulted in 445 criminal arrests and the apprehension of another 2,700 illegal alien workers on administrative immigration violations.

The aliens will be processed which includes a thorough interview and background screening to identify fugitives from the law or anyone with a criminal background. All will be placed into removal proceedings, and quickly returned to their country of origin. Aliens who re-enter the United States after having been deported face felony charges, and sentences up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

This worksite enforcement operation is part of the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), a comprehensive multi-year plan by the Department of Homeland Security to secure America's borders and reduce illegal migration. Under SBI, Homeland Security seeks to gain operational control of both the northern and southern borders, while re-engineering the detention and removal system to ensure that illegal aliens are removed from the country quickly and efficiently. SBI also involves strong interior enforcement efforts, including enhanced worksite enforcement investigations and intensified efforts to track down and remove illegal aliens inside this country.

This is an ongoing investigation.

The public is encouraged to report suspicious activity by calling ICE's toll-free hotline at: 1-866-347-2423.

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