U.S. Department of Homeland Security / Flickr
Federal immigration officials confirmed that 30 people were arrested June 25 at Buckeye Fire Equipment Company in North Carolina, following allegations of widespread identity theft related to the employment of undocumented immigrants, WBTV reported.
ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams told The Charlotte Observer that the company had hired individuals who lacked work authorization and used fraudulent Social Security numbers to obtain employment.
Federal agents arrived just before 1 p.m. on June 25 and remained on site into the afternoon. As of Friday morning, 30 people had been taken in for questioning and held at the Gaston County Jail. Williams told the Charlotte Observer that the number could rise as the investigation continues.
The enforcement operation involved numerous federal and local agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations (both under ICE), the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service’s criminal investigations unit, Office of the Inspector General, North Carolina National Guard, Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, and local law enforcement.
The Gaston County Police Department, Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, and Kings Mountain Police Department also assisted.
According to the Charlotte Observer, the Kings Mountain Police Department said that their role was limited to “addressing any potential state charges that may arise as part of the investigation.”
