Bear Creek Arsenal raided by ICE

[LRRPF52]

Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained approximately 70 men and women for “identification theft and fraud” from Bear Creek Arsenal — a manufacturer of AR-15 firearms and firearm products — in Sanford this morning.

The incident has led to several Latino-owned businesses in Sanford closing their doors today.

SANFORD, N.C. — At least 30 people were taken into custody in Sanford on Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, the Lee County Sheriff's Office said.

The operation was conducted at Bear Creek Arsenal, a gun manufacturing company in Sanford, and was the result of an ongoing investigation that dealt with identity theft and fraud, authorities said.

Bear Creek issued the following statement:

Today there were several employees who were detained by law enforcement. This is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security into employment that was obtained by either ID theft or fraudulent information.

The company said that Homeland Security confirmed Bear Creek's Human Resource Department "complied with all laws, rules and regulations" in their hiring practices.

Officials did not know how long the people will be held in custody.

"What I want Lee County residents to know is that this was not a random operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Lee County," the sheriff said in a statement. "This was the result of an ongoing investigation by Immigration and Customs and isolated to one location.​"

"ICE makes arrests daily as part of targeted immigration enforcement efforts," a spokesperson for ICE Public Affairs told WRAL News.

https://www.wral.com/30-people-detained-.../18171195/