U.S. Immigration officials arrest 13 illegal workers (KBCI-Boise)

U.S. Immigration officials arrest 13 illegal workers
Story Created: Apr 3, 2008 at 11:12 AM MDT

By Jerry Manter

HOMEDALE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Wednesday arrested 13 foreign nationals who were working illegally at a pallet manufacturing company located in Homedale.
The illegal workers, officials say, were employed by Specialty Inc., Wood Products, will be placed in removal proceedings for violating U.S. immigration law.
All of those taken into ICE custody, including 10 males and three females, are Mexican nationals, officials say. Each of the workers was interviewed by ICE agents to determine if they had any medical, caregiver, or other humanitarian issues.
Authorities say the interviews assisted ICE in determining whether the individuals would be detained, or released on humanitarian grounds, while they await an immigration hearing.
ICE initiated this investigation after receiving information that illegal aliens might be employed at the wood products company. Subsequent investigation revealed that some of the workers may have secured their employment by using false Social Security numbers and other counterfeit identity documents.
The owner of Specialty Inc., Wood Products is cooperating with ICE on this investigation, officials say.