Federal authorities said Thursday at least 46 undocumented workers were arrested during a sweeping Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation at a freight warehouse in Avenel, New Jersey, Wednesday.
Law enforcement personnel carried out the inspection at a federally authorized container freight station as part of an ongoing campaign to ensure compliance with immigration regulations.
At the warehouse, agents discovered 46 undocumented laborers, roughly 22% of the onsite workforce, officials said.
All 46 suspected illegal aliens were escorted into federal custody, where they now await immigration proceedings, according to the DHS.
Surveillance footage captured the tense moments as federal officers escorted groups of workers into what appeared to be numerous waiting vans while the warehouse was surrounded by a heavy law enforcement presence during the operation.
The agency said the inspection was part of ongoing efforts to “safeguard the integrity of the supply chain and verify that warehouse operators are adhering to all applicable security requirements.”
“DHS is committed to maintaining the highest levels of security and accountability within bonded facilities to protect both US commerce and the public,” a DHS spokesperson said. --->READ MORE HERE
For the third time in three months, ICE agents descended on another Middlesex County warehouse and arrested workers.
CBS New York reports that on Wednesday, ICE agents took dozens of people into custody at the Savino Del Bene warehouse on Englehard Avenue in the Avenel section. Dozens of people with their hands behind their backs were seen being placed into vans.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesman told New Jersey 101.5 in an email that 46 unauthorized immigrants were taken into custody which is 22% of the facility's workforce. The DHS law enforcement personnel conducted an inspection at an authorized “container freight station” in the Avenel section of Woodbridge on Wednesday. They are being held in DHS custody pending further immigration proceedings.
“DHS law enforcement personnel conducted an inspection at an authorized Container Freight Station in Avenel, New Jersey. The operation is part of DHS’ ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with customs and immigration regulations, safeguard the integrity of the supply chain, and verify that warehouse operators are adhering to all applicable security requirements," the spokesman said.
Several of the workers who were arrested were women, some of whom have school-age children who were expecting to be picked up after school, local officials said.
The warehouse is a Customs and Border Patrol-bonded facility, which allows for inspections. The agents arrived, identifying themselves as Customs agents and were followed in by ICE agents. --->READ MORE HERE
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