U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed a federal criminal search warrant at a rental equipment business in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on February 21, 2025. This action is part of an ongoing investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) into alleged labor exploitation and the employment of undocumented workers from the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
The operation was led by ICE HSI with support from several federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Enforcement Removal Operations, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the FBI.
During the execution of the search warrant, no arrests were made. However, ICE HSI seized documents and digital media devices as evidence. The materials collected included employment records, tax records, I-9 forms, bank statements, sales information, contracts data as well as electronic equipment like cellular phones and computers.
Rebecca González-Ramos, Special Agent in Charge at ICE HSI San Juan stated: “This investigation encompasses several aspects of our mission in Puerto Rico. We are not only enforcing immigration laws but also identifying any labor exploitation crimes including forced labor, a modality of human trafficking.”
The public is encouraged to report suspicious activities to ICE HSI Communication Center at 787-729-6969.
For updates from ICE HSI San Juan follow them on X @HSISanJuan.
