Immigration Consequences
of Criminal Activity
Deportation and
Removal Defense
Visa Applications and
Adjustment of Status
Worksite Enforcement
Appeals and Federal Litigation
Naturalization and
Citizenship
Recent Raids by Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Since its establishment in 2003, ICE has dramatically enhanced its efforts to combat the unlawful employment of illegal aliens in this country. The Agency's comprehensive strategy for worksite enforcement is aimed at promoting national security and public safety, protecting critical infrastructure, and ensuring fair labor standards.
From October 2007 through July 2008, ICE made more than 1,000 criminal arrests in connection with worksite enforcement investigations. Of those, more than 100 involve owners, managers, supervisors or human resources employees who face charges ranging from harboring to knowingly hiring illegal aliens.
In addition to the criminal arrests, ICE made more than 3,500 administrative arrests for immigration violations during worksite enforcement raids. Last year, ICE made more than 4,900 arrests in worksite enforcement cases, including more than 900 involving criminal violations.
This past year's actions represent a 45-fold increase in criminal worksite arrests compared to fiscal year 2001. Furthermore, ICE obtained more than $31 million in criminal fines, restitutions and civil judgments as a result of worksite related enforcement actions.
ICE News Releases
Counterfeit Ring Busted in Bogota, Colombia.
On April 3, 2009, Colombian officials arrested several citizens of Colombia who had been producing counterfeit documents used for acquiring valid U.S. visas. The group was involved in smuggling criminals from Colombia into the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of States were involved in the investigation.
Chinese Restaurant Owners convicted for Immigration Crimes.
On March 31, 2009, two Chinese restaurants owners in southern Illinois were convicted for immigration offenses. They were arrested for hiring illegal workers and harboring the workers. The two owners were also convicted for tax evasion. One owner, Duo Chen, was sentenced to 16 months in jail, fined $6,000 and ordered to forfeit $78,000 and pay over one-quarter million dollars in restitution.
Theft Ring Targets Schools in Puerto Rico.
On March 31, 2009 eight criminals were arrested for stealing identity documents from nearly fifty public schools throughout Puerto Rico. The ring focused on the public schools to steal identification documents from U.S. citizens. The documents stolen included originals and copies of social security cards, birth certificates, passports and driver licenses. The stolen documents were sold to buyers in California, Alaska and Texas. The persons arrested each face a possible 15 year jail sentence and fines up to $250,000.
Fake Lawyer Arrested for Filing False Asylum Claims.
On March 16, 2009, a woman living in Los Angeles, California was again arrested for filing bogus asylum applications for foreign nationals who paid thousands of dollars for her services. Gladis Escobar, ran her scam in San Diego and Los Angeles counties, falsely claiming to be an immigration lawyer. Escobar had already been arrested and convicted for grand theft in 2007.
Multi-State Marriage Fraud Conspirators Indicted.
On March 6, 2009, indictments were filed in Cincinnati, Ohio against ten individuals from Ohio, Kentucky, and New Jersey for arranging fake marriages between Eastern European nationals and U.S. citizens. Those indicted took money from foreign nationals and paid U.S citizens for the fraudulent marriages. They also produced fake marriage documents for presentation to federal Immigration officials. In 2008 ICE successfully prosecuted 198 persons for marriage fraud schemes.
Supervisor at Iowa Poultry Plant Gets Nearly Two Year Jail Sentence.
On March 4, 2009, a supervisor at the Postville Iowa company, AgriProcessors, was sentenced to 23 months in jail for helping over 100 illegal workers. Martin De La Rosa-Loera, a naturalized U.S. citizen, told poultry workers under his supervision that they would need to change their social security numbers and names to keep working. In May 2008 hundreds of illegal workers were arrested when criminal and administrative search warrants were executed at the Iowa facility.
Engine Manufacturing Company Raided in Bellingham, Washington.
ICE raid on February 24, 2009 at the Yamato Engine Specialists lands 28 illegal workers in deportation proceedings. The ICE worksite enforcement investigation revealed that many of the workers used fake social security numbers and other identity documents. The investigation began after the arrest of a criminal alien who had worked at the plant. All 28 illegal workers were from Central America.
Virginia Immigration Attorney Convicted for Fraud.
On February 13, 2009, Michael Hadeed, Jr. was convicted for conspiracy to commit immigration fraud and making false statements to federal investigators. The Northern Virginia immigration lawyer began filing false employment-based immigration paperwork in 1999 for foreign nationals seeking green cards and work authorization. The scheme continued through at least mid 2004.
President of Massachusetts Manufacturer with D.O.D. Contracts Sentenced.
On January 27, 2009, the president of a New Bedford manufacturer was sentenced for hiring illegal aliens to work on Department of Defense contracts worth over $230 million. Michael Bianco, Inc (MBI) increased it’s workforce by over 600% between 2001 and 2006 as it won numerous military contracts. A March 2007 ICE raid netted over 361 illegal workers who had been hired to gain an advantage over competitors. The president and corporation not only hired illegal workers, but also shield them from detection by fraudulently misrepresenting social security numbers, committing mail fraud by knowingly submitting false social security numbers, and failing to pay required overtime wages. Several other company officials were also convicted for their involvement in the crimes.