Immigrant sweep snags 58 at Fort Bragg

[Midnight Mike]

Immigrant sweep snags 58 at Fort Bragg 59 minutes ago



Federal agents conducting a sweep aimed at illegal immigrants detained 58 civilian workers Tuesday as they tried to enter Fort Bragg with suspected false or fraudulently obtained identification, officials said.

Almost all of them were construction workers, officials said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, U.S. marshals and FBI agents worked with the military on the sweep, which was conducted between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. when most of the thousands of soldiers and civilian workers who live off the post enter the gates.

"Today's operation was part of our ongoing force protection measures," said post spokesman Tom McCollum. "There were no incidents or accidents."

Some of the people detained were from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, ICE spokesman Marc Raimondi said.

Four people were arrested for drug possession, McCollum said.

People trying to enter Fort Bragg with false IDs can be charged with criminal trespass and presenting false identification, McCollum said. The garrison commander also can prevent contractors who knowingly hire such people from working at the base.

In the past year, more than 150 people have been detained as they tried to enter Fort Bragg without proper ID, McCollum said. The base is home to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and the 82nd Airborne Division.

[Mellyrose]

HA! I used to live about 2 miles from Ft. Bragg and everyday, even with a Ft. Bragg DOD sticker on my car, plus a military ID, I'd still have to go through a check point and occasionally have my car searched to get on base. These people are out of their minds!

[USAF Pilot 07]

Yea seriously, I don't know why these guys would risk their stay in America to work on an Army base.

All bases now require that you either have DoD stickers on your car, or that you go get a visitors or temp pass if you don't. All bases conduct 100% Identification checks. At most bases, there are only a few entrances/exits, and at each one there's an ECP (Entry Control Point) manned by either a civilian contractor (i.e. security guard) or Military cops. You HAVE to stop and show your DoD issued ID (or pass with valid government ID) to get in, and like Mel said, it's not too uncommon to be subjected to further random screening (anything from asking for your registration to having to get out and open every part of your car for inspection).

Why, if you were in this country illegally, you would risk your "freedom" by doing this everyday is something that I don't understand...