31 Suspected Illegal Aliens Arrested by INS
Immigration agents arrested 31 suspected illegal aliens at a Sun Valley direct-mail firm Thursday, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service said.
About two dozen agents served a search warrant at Mail-Pac Inc. in the 8400 block of Tujunga Avenue, the INS said. The company was targeted after agents received several tips that aliens were illegally employed there, said John Brechtel, INS assistant district director.
An audit of the company’s employment records showed that of 193 employees, 106 had counterfeit Social Security cards or fake work permits, Brechtel said. Under the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, employers must ask prospective workers for proof of citizenship or alien work permits, known as green cards.
Brechtel said the INS is investigating whether Mail-Pac was aware of the fake documents or helped the workers obtain them.
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