24 arrested at LR construction site in immigration raid

By The Associated Press

Federal agents arrested 24 workers suspected of being illegal immigrants at construction projection near the Little Rock National Airport, officials said Wednesday.

Agents raided the site Wednesday morning as police served a warrant on the site's supervisor for an unrelated drunken-driving charge, said Temple Black, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at New Orleans. Black said he didn't immediately know what tipped federal agents to take part in the arrests.

"The illegal immigrants were taken back to the office and they're being processed," Black said.

Officials with the airport said the raid took place at a construction site for Supermarine, a company operating near the airport. Supermarine, owned by American Airports Corp. of Santa Monica, Calif., supplies corporate and private aircraft with fuel and other items.

John Mears, general manager of Supermarine, did not immediately return a call for comment. Mexican consul Andres Chao said officials with the Little Rock consulate began talking with workers after the raid to determine their nationalities.

Wednesday's raid comes two weeks after an immigration raid on a north Arkansas poultry plant. Agents arrested 21 suspected illegal immigrants at Pilgrim's Pride plant in Batesville as part of a nationwide sweep against workers using illegally obtained Social Security numbers and driver's licenses.

Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.