San Diego
Thirty-two illegal aliens were taken into custody Tuesday in a raid of a Complex Drive giftware operation, the Immigration and Naturalization Service said.
As part of a program to open up jobs for American citizens and legal resident aliens, 19 INS officers raided Figi Giftware in the 8800 block of Complex Drive in Kearny Mesa Tuesday morning and arrested 32 Mexican men and women who were working there illegally, said Al Wuhrman, assistant district director for INS investigations.
Of the 11 women and 21 men taken to the San Diego Federal Building for processing, 28 were to be deported, and three will face hearings, Wuhrman said.
The Figi outlet, which manufactures picture frames, was not closed down, Wuhrman said. The illegal aliens comprised half of the workers on duty at the 9 a.m. raid, he said.
It was the second time Figi Giftware had been raided, according to James B. Turnage, district director of the San Diego INS office. In June, 1982, 58 illegal aliens were found working there.
Turnage said that local and state employment service offices have been advised of the raid “so that they can refer persons legally entitled to work to this company for employment.”
Turnage said the raid was conducted after complaints to the INS that Figi had a policy of hiring only illegal aliens.
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