Immigration Arrests at Cree        

WTVD Eyewitness News

(10/18/05 - DURHAM) - Federal immigration agents swept into a Durham semi-conductor company Tuesday, arresting 35 alleged illegal immigrants working there.

The sweep began around 5 a.m. and lasted for nearly 31/2 hours. Eyewitness News was there as agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement rounded up alleged undocumented workers from Pakistan, Israel, Indonesia, Gambia, Congo, Kenya, Mexico Guatemala and El Salvador.
Federal authorities tell Eyewitness News they worked on assembly lines, operating equipment and in janitorial services in high-security area. Agents say Cree holds a $150 million contract for the Department of Defense, manufacturing semi-conductors and lighting devices.

According to INS officials, Cree officials knew the agents were on their way. The company has been cooperating with agents in the investigation.

Cree officials say they had no way of knowing that employees had falsified documentation until the government stepped in. They say only 10 employees worked for Cree directly. The others worked for a cleaning contractor.

Cree officials also maintain that national security was never breached. INS officials say all 35 workers are being detained. Some of them will be released, but most will be deported.

Tuesday's arrests are the latest in a series of immigration raids at sensitive sites.

Earlier this month, three contract workers at Fort Bragg were arrested on immigration violations.

On July 6, federal agents arrested 48 illegal immigrants who were working construction jobs at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The men were employees of private contractors who were doing masonry, roofing, electrical and other construction work.

In May, ICE agents arrested nine unauthorized immigrants performing contract work at a Winston-Salem facility that refits the U.S. Navy's P-3 Orion aircraft, the Navy's primary anti-submarine patrol aircraft. ICE said the nine were known to work on the aircraft.

In March, agents rounded up 27 immigrants who were maintaining commercial jetliners in Greensboro.