SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE -- Dozens of illegal immigrants who were caught working at one of North Carolina's military bases are behind bars.
Authorities say at least 50 (sic) illegal immigrants were picked
up Wednesday at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
Forty-nine undocumented workers were arrested at Seymour Johnston Air Force Base Wednesday morning. WRAL has learned they were working on the base when it was discovered that they did not have the proper paperwork.
The operation was conducted with the cooperation of the Defense Criminal Investigation Service, Bureau of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the Social Security Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Goldsboro Police Department and 4th Security Forces Squadron.
WRAL has learned that some of the workers worked for subcontractors of Parsons Evergreene, LLC out of Salt Lake City. The company has contracts at 19 Air Force bases, building homes, infrastructure and security systems.
Federal immigration agents brought the group to an immigration office in Cary. They will be arraigned in federal court in Raleigh or Greenville depending on where judges are available.
The workers were hired under local contracting agreements to provide construction services.
An INS representative out of Atlanta told WRAL that she is still waiting for her agents in the field to give her all the specifics.