U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 12 individuals during a worksite enforcement operation in South Texas on June 9. The arrests took place at two business locations, one in Harlingen and another in San Benito, Texas. This operation was led by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations Rio Grande Valley office, with support from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.
A female individual allegedly assaulted a special agent during the operation. She now faces two counts of assault on a federal officer.
The arrested individuals are citizens of Mexico and El Salvador. They are currently awaiting removal proceedings.
Federal law mandates that employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of their employees using Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. ICE employs the I-9 inspection program to ensure compliance as part of its broader strategy to combat illegal employment.
ICE’s worksite enforcement often overlaps with other criminal investigations such as alien smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, document fraud, worker exploitation, and poor working conditions.
The public can report crimes or suspicious activities by calling the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or by completing an online tip form.
For more information about enforcement efforts and investigations, follow HSI San Antonio on X at @HSI_SanAntonio.
