Twenty-three illegal immigrants believed to be from India were arrested today in a raid involving the ethanol plant under construction near Casselton, N.D., prosecutors said.
A task force led by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made the arrests this morning after receiving a tip from the contractor, Wanzek Construction Inc. of Fargo, said Drew Wrigley, U.S. Attorney for North Dakota.
All 23 will face federal criminal prosecution, and are scheduled to make a court appearance Friday.
Although the workers came legally to the United States, they later obtained false documents, including bogus Social Security cards and driver's licenses from several states, not including North Dakota, Wrigley said.
The arrests were made after the workers showed up for a meeting called by their employer, a ruse to accommodate the mass arrest. The arrests were made without incident, Wrigley said.
ADVERTISEMENT
"They have cooperated throughout the investigation of this case and are to be complimented," Wrigley said of Wanzek Construction.
