U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out a significant worksite enforcement operation at the Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana, on March 13. The operation was part of an investigation into the illegal employment of unauthorized workers by contractors involved in a construction project at this critical infrastructure location.
The operation resulted in the identification and arrest of 11 individuals from Mexico, Nicaragua, and Ecuador. These individuals were found working at the port and are now subject to removal proceedings.
The effort was led by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from several agencies including ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations, CBP Border Patrol, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Coast Guard, USCG Investigative Service, Louisiana State Police, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Lake Charles Harbor Police.
Federal law mandates that employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of their hires using the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. ICE promotes compliance through its I-9 inspection program as part of a broader strategy to prevent illegal employment practices. Inspections are considered a key tool for ensuring businesses adhere to U.S. employment laws.
ICE's approach to worksite enforcement also involves other investigative areas since such investigations can uncover additional criminal activities like alien smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, document fraud, worker exploitation or substandard wage conditions.
