BELLINGHAM, Wash. - U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents today arrested 28 employees during a raid at a Bellingham engine manufacturing shop.
The raid occurred at Yamato Engine Specialists, located at 2020 Bakerview Road.
Agents say the workers are foreign nationals with administrative immigration violations. They include 25 men and three women. The workers are being held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.
The investigation was instigated by the arrest of a criminal illegal alien who previously worked for Yamato, according to ICE officials. Agents say Yamato's hiring records indicated other workers may have used fake Social Security numbers and counterfeit documents to obtain employment.
The raid comes as the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office moves closer to working with the border patrol.
The sheriff's office is applying to become part of Operation Stonegarden, a $60 million border patrol program where counties agree to assist the border patrol in exchange for money and equipment. Some people say it's a dangerous trade.
Activist Rosalinda Guillen, who opposes the plan, says in exchange for the money, the sheriff's office agrees to detain and turn over suspected illegal immigrants to border patrol. Guillen says it's a recipe for racial profiling.
"It's almost like they're looking for something to do and we're the targets," she said.
But Whatcom County Sheriff's Chief Jeff Parks says that's just not the case. Already deputies call in the feds when they suspect someone is here illegally. The grant money would help in preparation for increased security during the 2010 Olympics.
"This is not changing the way that we operate, it doesn't change our focus," Parks said.
The sheriff in Jefferson County declined to apply for the grant. He felt language in the application that described undocumented immigrants as "criminal" was insensitive and felt the overall document was unacceptable.
Guillen wishes Whatcom County felt the same.
While there's no reason to believe anything criminal or terrorist related might happen in the county during the 2010 Olympics, the sheriff's office says it needs to be prepared. That means new equipment, manpower and training. That takes money, and they believe Operation Stonegarden could really help.
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