A search of a Mississippi Gulf Coast concrete business by federal immigration authorities resulted in nearly 20 immigrant workers being detained.
Per a release from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the law enforcement department’s agents collaborated with U.S. Border Patrol’s Gulfport Station and the local Drug Enforcement Administration to conduct a worksite enforcement operation at Gulf Coast Prestress Partners in Pass Christian.
A “Notice of Inspection” and immigration subpoena were served to the business by federal authorities. While delivering the paperwork and interviewing employees, agents report observing a large group of people running from the back of the property.
In total, agents apprehended 18 total fleeing individuals. After an investigation, the individuals were found to be from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Two of the 18 had immigration court dates and work authorization, prompting law enforcement to release them from custody. One 16-year-old juvenile Mexican national was identified among the bunch. ICE Gulfport conducted overnight monitoring of the juvenile and transported the unidentified individual to the Office of Refugee Resettlement custody.
Under federal law, employers are required to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all individuals they hire and to document that information using the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9, which is monitored to ensure legal immigration hiring practices are in effect.
