Forty illegal workers arrested at U.S. military bases in three states

ATLANTA -- Immigration officials have arrested 40 illegal workers hired by military contractors in three states, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Friday.

The arrests took place on Wednesday and Thursday in Georgia, Virginia and Nevada, the agency said. The workers were hired by different subcontractors, none of which faced federal charges, Rocha said.

Twenty-four illegal immigrants were arrested while trying to enter Fort Benning, Ga., on Wednesday to do construction work on soldiers' barracks, said agency spokesman Richard Rocha.

Of the workers arrested, 21 were charged with identity theft and immigration violations. The three not facing criminal charges were to be placed in immigration removal proceedings.

Similar raids at military installations in Nevada and Virginia on Thursday netted 18 other arrests, including two people accused of harboring illegal aliens, agency spokesman Marc Raimondi said.

The 16 people arrested in Virginia include 14 undocumented workers who are not facing criminal charges but will be sent to immigration removal proceedings, including three arrested at the Quantico Marine Base. The two workers arrested in Nevada also are not facing criminal charges.

Immigration officials released few details, but said the arrests resulted from a seven-month investigation.

Military installations and other structures considered critical to national security have been a high priority for immigration officials as they have stepped up efforts to crack down on illegal workers over the last year, said Julie Myers, assistant secretary for immigration and customs enforcement.