49 undocumented workers detained

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SEYMOUR-JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (ACCNS) --  Forty-nine undocumented workers were apprehended here Wednesday morning by base, local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Air Force Office of Special Investigations led the operation, called Clean Sweep, to detain contract workers on base. After scrutinizing individual forms of identification and employee documentation, agents were able to determine a number of the workers were employed under false pretenses. Those apprehended were construction workers hired by regional firms contracted to perform labor on base.

According to AFOSI Special Agent Rob Fields, agent in charge of Clean Sweep, the operation was executed seamlessly.

Thanks to outstanding cooperation among all agencies involved, everything went as planned, said Agent Fields. No one was hurt, and we transitioned the individuals to federal custody smoothly. It really was a successful operation. This was a shining example of inter-agency cooperation in our post-9/11 world.

Though Seymour Johnson security forces did not deem the workers a security threat, 4th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Mike Holmes, sees the event as a cause for further investigation.

Anyone present on base under false pretenses is a serious concern, Colonel Holmes said. What we need to do next is go back and look closely at our part of the contracting process and identify what procedures, if any, need to be changed to ensure weve done all we can to make sure this doesnt happen again.

The base adheres to all Air Combat Command and Air Force guidance regarding base entry procedures. Contract workers are required to have a valid government issued photo identification card and submit to a criminal background check.

Additionally, contract workers must be sponsored onto the installation by an approved agent of the contractor. The approved agent is also required to maintain physical proximity with the workers while on the installation.

The Defense Criminal Investigation Service, Bureau of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the Social Security Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Goldsboro Police Department and 4th Security Forces Squadron joined OSI agents in the operation.