March 29, 2007

ICE arrests illegal aliens in Baltimore worksite enforcement operation
Employment services firm allegedly provided Baltimore businesses with illegal aliens

BALTIMORE – As part of an ongoing criminal investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents executed a criminal search warrant, civil warrants, and conducted consent searches at nine business locations in the Baltimore area. ICE also seized a bank account belonging to Jones Industrial Network (JIN) worth more than $600,000 and preliminarily arrested 69 employees and other immigration status violators working at JIN and at companies that contracted with JIN for workers.

The criminal search warrant was executed at JIN, a temporary employment agency that contracts with companies in the Baltimore area; civil warrants were executed at five businesses and consent searches were conducted at three businesses where JIN allegedly provided illegal alien workers. 

“Today’s enforcement action is part of ICE’s aggressive pursuit of employers who violate the law," said Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “Worksite enforcement actions target a key component of the illicit support structure that enables illegal immigration to flourish. No employer, regardless of industry or location is immune from complying with the nation’s laws. ICE and our law enforcement partners will continue to bring all of our authorities to bear in this fight using criminal charges, asset seizures, administrative arrests and deportations.”

The investigation, which is ongoing, began in 2006 when ICE received information regarding temporary employment agencies providing illegal aliens to work at companies operating in Baltimore. JIN was identified as a company suspected of providing undocumented aliens to work at the Port of Baltimore and other locations within the greater Baltimore area.

All of the immigration status violators arrested today will be interviewed by ICE staff, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Immigration Health Services (DIHS) staff and offered access to Maryland Child Protective Service staff to record any medical, sole-caregiver or other humanitarian situations.  Based upon these interviews, ICE will determine whether detainees remain in custody or are considered for humanitarian release.  In all cases, undocumented aliens will be fingerprinted and processed for removal from the United States. 

A 24-hour toll-free hotline for family members of illegal aliens who are arrested in today’s operation will field questions about detention status and the removal process. The phone number is: 866-341-3858. The hotline is available between today and March 30.

ICE is the lead-investigating agency.  The Maryland State Police, Baltimore City Police, Baltimore County Police, Anne Arundel County Police Department and Customs & Border Protection provided public safety assistance.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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