Authorities announced on Thursday that 46 undocumented workers were apprehended during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation at a freight warehouse in Avenel, New Jersey, the previous day.
The inspection was conducted at a federally authorized container freight station as part of an ongoing effort to ensure compliance with immigration regulations.
During the operation at the warehouse, 46 undocumented laborers, constituting approximately 22% of the workforce on-site, were found, according to officials.
All 46 individuals suspected of being in the country illegally were taken into federal custody for immigration proceedings, as confirmed by the DHS.
Surveillance footage captured the intense scene as federal officers escorted groups of workers into waiting vans, with a heavy law enforcement presence surrounding the warehouse during the operation.
The DHS stated that the inspection was part of their continuous commitment to maintain the integrity of the supply chain and ensure warehouse operators comply with security requirements.
“DHS is dedicated to upholding the highest levels of security and accountability within bonded facilities to safeguard US commerce and the public,” a spokesperson for the agency stated.
The company operating the warehouse was not disclosed, and it was not indicated whether the employer could face penalties.
This raid follows a similar operation that took place about two months ago at a Hyundai-LG battery factory in Georgia, where 475 individuals, primarily South Korean nationals, were detained on suspicions of being in the country unlawfully. This signals a potential nationwide crackdown on workplace immigration enforcement.
