A targeted immigration enforcement operation at construction sites in El Paso, Texas, and Santa Teresa, New Mexico, resulted in the arrest of 38 illegal aliens and the rescue of three minors unlawfully working on job sites, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Conducted over nine days, Jan. 11–19, the operation stemmed from intelligence gathered in December and involved multiple law enforcement partners.
The rescued minors, ages 15 to 17, were transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for care, ICE said.
Acting Field Office Director Joel Garcia emphasized that protecting minors from exploitation was a priority alongside enforcing immigration laws.
“We will continue to aggressively pursue criminal investigations and enforce immigration laws to preserve national security and public safety,” Garcia said in a statement.
The minors were reportedly subjected to long hours in potentially hazardous conditions, highlighting the ongoing risks of illegal child labor in the construction sector.
Among those arrested were four individuals charged with felony illegal reentry and two ICE fugitives with final orders of removal.
Eight had prior criminal convictions, including assault causing bodily injury, driving while intoxicated, and failure to identify as a fugitive from justice.
One individual with an active warrant for deceptive business practices was transferred to local law enforcement with an immigration detainer lodged, according to KTEN.
The operation highlighted the multiagency collaboration required for modern immigration enforcement.
Partners included Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Epoch Times reported.
Federal labor enforcement data indicate why such actions are critical: illegal child labor violations in hazardous industries, including construction, have risen in recent years, prompting coordinated efforts to protect young workers from unsafe and unlawful employment.
Officials stressed that intelligence-driven operations like this help prevent exploitation while upholding labor and immigration laws.
ICE also reminded individuals in the United States seeking to avoid enforcement encounters that they may use the CBP Home App to voluntarily notify authorities of their planned departure and receive assistance, including a return flight.
Those who decline voluntary departure face arrest and deportation without the option to return.
This voluntary option is part of ICE’s broader effort to encourage compliance with U.S. immigration law while reducing risks for families and minors.
This operation is part of a broader nationwide campaign in which immigration authorities have arrested thousands of illegal aliens working across various industries, including restaurants and construction, underscoring ongoing efforts to enforce immigration laws and maintain public safety.
Local officials in El Paso praised the enforcement for removing individuals with criminal histories from the community and for rescuing minors from unlawful labor.
Federal authorities stressed the importance of public vigilance and interagency cooperation to identify and report suspected illegal work and exploitation.
ICE continues to coordinate with HHS and other partners to ensure the long-term care of rescued minors while pursuing removal proceedings against those apprehended.
The operation demonstrates how intelligence-driven, collaborative enforcement can uphold immigration laws while protecting vulnerable populations, serving as a model for future worksite enforcement initiatives.
