U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducted an unannounced inspection at a CBP-bonded warehouse in North Bergen, New Jersey, on February 26. The operation aimed to ensure that individuals working in government-regulated facilities were lawfully present and authorized to work in the United States.
The joint effort with the FBI Newark Field Office, DEA New Jersey Division, and ATF led to the arrest of 16 individuals who were found to be illegally present in the country. ICE Homeland Security Investigations Newark Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel emphasized the importance of this operation: “This operation underscores HSI’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the integrity of our trade infrastructure and, in turn, the wellbeing of the public at-large.”
CBP Acting Port Director Jeffrey Greene also commented on the significance of enforcement efforts: “In the current threat climate, enforcement efforts like this are critical. Holding our trade industry partners accountable provides a baseline for operational proficiency.”
The inspection was part of broader efforts to ensure compliance with U.S. employment laws and customs regulations. It aimed to identify unauthorized access by employees lacking authority within bonded areas and any unauthorized manipulations of commercial merchandise.
ICE is tasked with enforcing laws established by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which mandates employers verify identities and work eligibility using Form I-9. The agency's strategy includes leveraging various investigative disciplines as worksite investigations can uncover additional criminal activities such as alien smuggling or human trafficking.
ICE's approach involves compliance through I-9 inspections, civil fines, referrals for debarment; enforcement via criminal arrests of employers; and administrative arrests of unauthorized workers.
