SEATTLE – U.S. immigration agents have detained 51 immigrants at two Auburn warehouses, alleging they were working here illegally.
The warehouses, which were the subject of a federal civil warrant of inspection, are operated by UPS Supply Chain Solutions and are security-sensitive storage facilities that store imported goods. Most of the workers were temporary employees for Spherion Corp., a temporary employment agency.
An audit showed that several workers had used counterfeit identification, including fake Social Security numbers, to get jobs, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Illegal immigrant workers with access to such security-sensitive sites – such as customs-bonded warehouses, airports and military bases – are vulnerable to exploitation by terrorists and other criminals, immigration officials said.
Kip Havel, a spokesman for Spherion, said the company is looking into the situation and is cooperating with authorities.
The workers, who were detained Wednesday, are mostly from Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. They were being held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.
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