Federal immigration officials detained 25 workers at a Harvey, La., shipyard following an investigation into alleged employment and immigration violations, according to a Nov. 3 statement from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans, with support from Enforcement and Removal Operations New Orleans, carried out the operation Oct. 30. The action targeted employees of Big “B” Services LLC, doing business as Barrois Welding Services, whose employees were working at the unnamed shipyard, an ICE statement said.
ICE said its investigation began in March after the arrest of a Barrois Welding Services employee for immigration violations. ICE said HSI agents served a Notice of Inspection and Immigration Subpoena to company owner Russel E. Barrois, requesting employment records, including Form I-9s, identification documents, and a current employee list. Officials said Barrois failed to provide the documentation despite multiple requests.
During last week’s inspection, agents identified and detained 25 Honduran nationals who were allegedly in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“This operation demonstrates our commitment to enforcing immigration laws and holding employers accountable,” said Matt Wright, HSI New Orleans deputy special agent in charge, in an ICE statement. “We will continue to investigate and take action against those who fail to comply with the law.”'
The detentions come amid sweeping increases in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which expanded ICE operations and prioritized arrests of undocumented immigrants in their communities and workplaces.
