EDISON, N.J. — Federal immigration agents detained 20 people during a raid Tuesday at the Alba Wine & Spirits warehouse in Edison, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed.
The operation, conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), took place on July 8 and targeted individuals believed to be in the country without legal status, DHS officials said.
“Twenty illegal aliens” were arrested during the raid, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Friday in a statement to CBS News New York.
The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice said ICE agents entered the facility to verify immigration statuses and confirmed the number of workers taken into custody.
Company representatives at Alba Wine & Spirits declined to comment when reached by phone and did not respond to emailed inquiries.
The raid has sparked concern among local immigration advocates, who say it raises questions about workplace enforcement practices and due process during on-site inspections.
ICE has not released the names or nationalities of those detained, and it remains unclear whether any charges have been filed.