THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 28, 1996 TAG: 9602280422
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Immigration agents arrested 37 illegal workers employed by four contractors near the Norfolk Naval Base, prompting an investigation into hiring law violations.
Agents from the Norfolk office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service were tipped to the workers from local law enforcement officials, the INS said in a news release. Aided by Naval Base Police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, they discovered that immigration work documents used by some contract employers were fraudulent.
The workers were employed by four federal contractors at the Naval Base - M & M Drywall, Modu Tech, Santos Construction and Tricon. Officials said they were arrested without incident Monday.
None of the companies could be reached for comment.
William Carroll, INS district director, said the arrests are important because the workers were ``apprehended just a week after President Clinton signed an executive order making it illegal for Federal agencies to contract with companies that hire illegal immigrants.''
The arrests occurred just two weeks after the arrest of nine illegal workers at a Williamsburg construction site, involving the Endebrock-White Company.
The Service sent 23 of the 46 immigrants to their native countries Tuesday. The others will be returned to their countries as soon as possible, the INS said.
If the companies knowingly hired illegal immigrants, they each could face up to $2000 in fines for each violation.
KEYWORDS: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS by CNB