Federal immigration authorities conducted a worksite enforcement operation outside New Orleans last week, arresting more than two dozen illegal aliens employed at a Louisiana shipyard following months of noncompliance by the company’s owner.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that agents carried out the raid on October 30 at Barrois Welding Services, located in Harvey, Louisiana.

The enforcement action came after company owner Russel E. Barrois allegedly failed to provide requested employment authorization records and documentation despite repeated requests dating back to March.

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ICE officials said the missing materials included Form I-9 employment verification forms, identification records, and a current list of active employees.

Under federal law, all employers are required to maintain I-9 documentation verifying each employee’s legal authorization to work in the United States.

“This operation demonstrates our commitment to enforcing immigration laws and holding employers accountable,” ICE spokesperson Matt Wright said in a statement.

During the operation, agents arrested 25 illegal aliens working at the site.

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All of those detained were citizens of Honduras, according to ICE.

The agency reported that several of the individuals taken into custody had criminal records that included prior charges for driving under the influence, illegal reentry into the United States, resisting a police officer by providing a false statement, and discharging a firearm.

The arrests are part of a broader effort by federal authorities to enforce immigration and labor laws through targeted worksite inspections.

Officials said investigations into employer practices at Barrois Welding Services began earlier this year after the company failed to comply with formal requests from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division.

Under federal procedure, employers who do not respond to I-9 audits or document requests may be subject to civil penalties, criminal prosecution, or both.

ICE officials said that in addition to the arrests, investigators will continue reviewing records related to the company’s hiring practices to determine whether Barrois or other management personnel knowingly employed unauthorized workers.

“We will continue to investigate and take action against those who fail to comply with the law,” Wright said.

The agency did not specify whether the detained individuals would face criminal prosecution or expedited removal.

According to ICE policy, individuals arrested during worksite operations undergo processing that includes criminal background checks, immigration history reviews, and verification of prior removal orders before a final determination on their status is made.

The operation marks the latest in a series of workplace enforcement efforts under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has emphasized compliance among employers and the identification of unauthorized workers.

Federal data show that ICE has expanded workplace audits and inspections nationwide in recent months, focusing on industries that historically employ large numbers of foreign laborers, including construction, manufacturing, and ship repair.

Barrois Welding Services has not publicly commented on the arrests or the ongoing investigation.

ICE officials said that additional enforcement actions may follow if investigators uncover further evidence of unlawful hiring or document fraud.

The agency confirmed that all 25 individuals taken into custody in the Louisiana operation are being held pending removal proceedings or prosecution for prior immigration-related offenses.

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