Phantom Blooper
08-19-05, 05:53 AM
August 19,2005
CHRIS MAZZOLINI
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Nearly 40 undocumented workers were detained this week at Camp Lejeune, prompting an investigation by federal immigration officials, a base spokesman said Thursday.
Camp Lejeune officials detained 27 people at base gates during security checks Wednesday and another 12 at various construction sites Monday, said 1st Lt. Clark Carpenter. The initial investigation was triggered by an anonymous tip to Lejeune's command inspectors office, Carpenter said.
Military investigators went to the site of the new primary school on Stone Street at 10:30 a.m. Monday and apprehended five undocumented workers, Carpenter said. Further checks at other construction sites that same day found an additional seven. As a result, Carpenter said, the base stepped up inspections at a number of gates Wednesday.
The investigation is now being handled by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Wilmington, Carpenter said. Contractors are required to follow any federal, state and municipal laws, codes and regulations applicable to work performance - labor and immigration laws included, he noted.
"We're currently evaluating the facts and circumstances of this incident," Carpenter said. "There is a continuing investigation â?¦, and, until we learn more, we cannot comment on (its) progress."
Details on where the workers are from, how they got on base and what will happen to them now were not immediately made available.
Sue Brown, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security office in Atlanta, said Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not commenting now because the investigation is ongoing. Further details should be made available once the investigation is complete, she said.
Carpenter declined to mention any contractors by name, saying only that investigators were "looking into the practices of several contractors right now." Work on base projects will continue, he added.
Defense contracts represent a lucrative business for the private sector. In fiscal year 2004, the government awarded $100 million worth of contracts for construction, environmental remediation, architectural and engineering designs and facilities support at Camp Lejeune, Carpenter said. Included in that total is $83 million for 206 new contracts to repair existing facilities or construct new ones.
According to the Defense Department, Tyler, Texas-based C Construction Co., Inc., was awarded $23.6 million last year to perform construction and demolition of the mainside primary and mainside intermediate schools at Camp Lejeune, including the new Carla Johnson Primary School on Stone Street.
According to previously published Daily News reports, C Construction began work on the school in March. It was scheduled to be complete by the start of the school year next week.
Reached at the company's headquarters in Texas, C Construction President Bryan Rossman declined to provide any information.
"We're not allowed to speak to anyone about employment issues," he said.
Rossman referred the matter to the company's vice president, Tommy Hayes, at its regional office in Jacksonville. Additional questions, he said, should be directed to military officials.
"My suggestion is you talk to the Marine Corps," Rossman said.
Hayes, too, declined to comment.
"I can't comment on it, basically, because I don't know," Hayes said.
This marks the second time this year that undocumented workers have been apprehended on a North Carolina military installation. In July, 49 people were arrested at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro.
Carpenter said Camp Lejeune takes security very seriously.
"We conduct inspections at our entry points based on a number of criteria, but essentially it's to identify illegal items, substances or people that might be trying to enter this base," he said.
Contact staff writer Chris Mazzolini at cmazzolini@freedomenc.com or at 353-1171, Ext. 229.
CHRIS MAZZOLINI
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Nearly 40 undocumented workers were detained this week at Camp Lejeune, prompting an investigation by federal immigration officials, a base spokesman said Thursday.
Camp Lejeune officials detained 27 people at base gates during security checks Wednesday and another 12 at various construction sites Monday, said 1st Lt. Clark Carpenter. The initial investigation was triggered by an anonymous tip to Lejeune's command inspectors office, Carpenter said.
Military investigators went to the site of the new primary school on Stone Street at 10:30 a.m. Monday and apprehended five undocumented workers, Carpenter said. Further checks at other construction sites that same day found an additional seven. As a result, Carpenter said, the base stepped up inspections at a number of gates Wednesday.
The investigation is now being handled by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Wilmington, Carpenter said. Contractors are required to follow any federal, state and municipal laws, codes and regulations applicable to work performance - labor and immigration laws included, he noted.
"We're currently evaluating the facts and circumstances of this incident," Carpenter said. "There is a continuing investigation â?¦, and, until we learn more, we cannot comment on (its) progress."
Details on where the workers are from, how they got on base and what will happen to them now were not immediately made available.
Sue Brown, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security office in Atlanta, said Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not commenting now because the investigation is ongoing. Further details should be made available once the investigation is complete, she said.
Carpenter declined to mention any contractors by name, saying only that investigators were "looking into the practices of several contractors right now." Work on base projects will continue, he added.
Defense contracts represent a lucrative business for the private sector. In fiscal year 2004, the government awarded $100 million worth of contracts for construction, environmental remediation, architectural and engineering designs and facilities support at Camp Lejeune, Carpenter said. Included in that total is $83 million for 206 new contracts to repair existing facilities or construct new ones.
According to the Defense Department, Tyler, Texas-based C Construction Co., Inc., was awarded $23.6 million last year to perform construction and demolition of the mainside primary and mainside intermediate schools at Camp Lejeune, including the new Carla Johnson Primary School on Stone Street.
According to previously published Daily News reports, C Construction began work on the school in March. It was scheduled to be complete by the start of the school year next week.
Reached at the company's headquarters in Texas, C Construction President Bryan Rossman declined to provide any information.
"We're not allowed to speak to anyone about employment issues," he said.
Rossman referred the matter to the company's vice president, Tommy Hayes, at its regional office in Jacksonville. Additional questions, he said, should be directed to military officials.
"My suggestion is you talk to the Marine Corps," Rossman said.
Hayes, too, declined to comment.
"I can't comment on it, basically, because I don't know," Hayes said.
This marks the second time this year that undocumented workers have been apprehended on a North Carolina military installation. In July, 49 people were arrested at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro.
Carpenter said Camp Lejeune takes security very seriously.
"We conduct inspections at our entry points based on a number of criteria, but essentially it's to identify illegal items, substances or people that might be trying to enter this base," he said.
Contact staff writer Chris Mazzolini at cmazzolini@freedomenc.com or at 353-1171, Ext. 229.