Federal immigration agents have uncovered complex identity theft schemes during recent worksite enforcement operations, refuting the notion that illegals are “good, hardworking and honest” people who are being unfairly targeted.
In two recent raids, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement helped execute federal search warrants related to identity theft, stolen Social Security numbers, and other fraudulent documents used to obtain employment.
“The criminals who stole these identities didn’t just break the law, they upended lives,” ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito said of a recent raid in Nebraska. “These victims aren’t faceless statistics; they’re real people who are being denied healthcare and have lost educational opportunities.”
ICE posted a video on X about a June 25 worksite enforcement raid at Buckeye Fire Equipment Company in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, which resulted in 30 arrests:
28 illegal aliens arrested in North Carolina worksite enforcement operation — aggravated identity theft and other federal crimes suspected.
2 other subjects arrested on state charges and numerous documents seized in this ongoing investigation.
Details: https://t.co/nZHQeorCQ9 pic.twitter.com/rgAviWfsdU
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) July 1, 2025
“28 illegal aliens arrested in North Carolina worksite enforcement operation — aggravated identity theft and other federal crimes suspected. 2 other subjects arrested on state charges and numerous documents seized in this ongoing investigation.”
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations special agents executed the federal search warrant at the Buckeye plant as part of an active, ongoing criminal investigation, according to a news release from ICE.
“This operation underscores HSI’s unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of our nation’s financial and identification systems,” said HSI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant, who also oversees North and South Carolina. “Identity fraud is not a victimless crime — it fuels a range of criminal activity and puts innocent people at risk.”
The operation, in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement partners, focused on “serious allegations of aggravated identity theft and potential federal crimes,” according to ICE.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller posted on X: “This Administration is aggressively fighting identity theft.”
This Administration is aggressively fighting identity theft. https://t.co/O3oVxSeg3x
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) July 1, 2025
In the video, agents arrive at Buckeye Fire Equipment and show a warrant. Footage shows people handing over personal items and putting them into clear plastic bags, as well as federal agents breaking out the window on a door and detaining people.
Those detained are led out of the building and processed under white, portable tents.
Buckeye Fire Equipment, located in rural North Carolina about 35 miles west of Charlotte, is “the top manufacturer of reliable fire protection products,” and proudly claims that it’s been American-made since 1968, according to the website.
The Center Square reported that BFE has yet to respond to requests for comment from about its hiring practices, including if it uses E-Verify, performs background checks on employees, why it hired illegal foreign nationals and if it was aware they were involved in an identity theft scheme to work there.
A group of protestors stood outside of Buckeye holding Mexican flags. They said they supported human rights and the Hispanic community, WRAL News reported. Employees told WRAL they were held inside for hours and told to turn off their phones.
Another recent workforce bust in Omaha, Nebraska, found that illegal foreign nationals used fraudulent and stolen information to obtain employment at Glenn Valley Foods, according to a June 18 news release.
Federal agents executed a search warrant June 10 for the suspected large-scale employment of immigrants without legal work authorization. The ICE-led multiagency investigation resulted in approximately 70 migrants being detained for using stolen Social Security numbers and identities.
Glenn Valley Foods workers, primarily from Honduras, unlawfully “obtained wages, health benefits and employment authorization, leaving more than 100 real victims to face devastating financial, emotional and legal consequences,” according to ICE.
“There have been individuals who have gone on the record recently referring to the identity thieves we arrested as ‘good, hardworking, and honest,’” Zito said. “These so-called honest workers have caused an immeasurable amount of financial and emotional hardship for innocent Americans.”
The agency reported U.S. citizens in at least five states were denied medically necessary prescriptions, unable to obtain disability benefits, contacted by the IRS to repay money, lost tuition assistance and couldn’t renew their driver’s licenses because their names and Social Security numbers had been stolen.
In one case, a victim in California fought for nearly 15 years to regain their identity and fix the financial damage done by an illegal alien who was working at Glenn Valley Foods.
“If pretending to be someone you aren’t in order to steal their lives isn’t blatant, criminal dishonesty, I don’t know what is,” Zito added.
