Federal authorities detained 57 workers during a worksite raid in Cayuga County, New York, on Sept. 4, announcing that five of those arrested have been criminally charged with illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations.
Acting U.S. Attorney John Sarcone III called the operation "one of the largest worksite enforcement actions in recent history" for the Northern District of New York and said employers risk criminal investigation if they knowingly employ noncitizens who are not authorized to work. Officials said the remaining 52 individuals were being held administratively pending immigration proceedings.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York identified the five defendants who face criminal complaints alleging illegal reentry: Alex Ben Chipin, 39, of Guatemala; Argentina Juarez-Lopez, 50, of Guatemala; Luis Jom-Morales, 27, of Guatemala; Gregorio Baldemar Ramirez-Perez, 45, of Guatemala; and Francisco Salvardo-Mora, 22, of Mexico. The complaint charges carry a maximum prison sentence of two years, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to one year.
Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan, of the Buffalo field office, said HSI remains committed to protecting worker rights and upholding U.S. laws by identifying exploitation in the workplace and ensuring compliance with labor and immigration statutes. Authorities also said the agency seeks to uncover potentially dangerous or abusive business practices during such investigations.
Officials did not immediately identify the employer or the specific industry involved in the Cayuga County raid. The U.S. Attorney's statement noted that unemployment in parts of Upstate and Central New York, including Cayuga County, is relatively high and said enforcement actions aim to ensure jobs go to people authorized to work in the United States.
The arrests were the result of a coordinated enforcement action involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Federal worksite enforcement has been used periodically to address unlawful employment of noncitizens, and authorities said the presence of individuals who previously were removed from the United States and returned without authorization can prompt criminal as well as civil immigration consequences.
Those detained administratively will face immigration proceedings that could include removal hearings before immigration judges. The five defendants charged with illegal reentry will proceed through the federal criminal process, which can include arraignment, potential detention pending trial, and subsequent court proceedings.
The Northern District of New York's announcement did not provide a timeline for the migration or hiring histories of those detained, nor did it disclose any immediate plans to pursue criminal charges against the employer. Federal authorities have in recent years emphasized both worker protection and immigration enforcement in worksite investigations, and officials in this case reiterated the potential for employer criminal investigation when unauthorized workers are employed.
The operation adds to a series of federal enforcement actions targeting unauthorized employment and alleged reentry after removal. Legal outcomes for those charged and for individuals in immigration proceedings will depend on the results of criminal and immigration court processes and are subject to prosecutorial decisions and judicial determinations.