Palm Beach County: Customs detains 14 workers (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Palm Beach County: Customs detains 14 workers

February 25, 2009

A federal officer caught 14 undocumented immigrants digging a ditch at Palm Beach International Airport on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer noticed that only one worker out of about 20 was wearing an identification badge and went over to inquire, agency spokesman Luis Diaz said.

"He went on to several of the other workers and asked if they had ID," Diaz said. "They said they were illegally here in the U.S."

They were digging a ditch for cables on airport property, Diaz said. Airport spokeswoman Cassandra Davis declined to comment.

The workers will be processed in Riviera Beach and then handed over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for further investigation and likely deportation, officials said.