Federal authorities arrested 27 undocumented workers on the campus of Texas A&M University–Kingsville (TAMUK) on Thursday, June 26, as part of an operation conducted by U.S. immigration enforcement, according to KRIS 6 News, citing a statement from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division.
According to an agency spokesperson, the operation targeted a contractor suspected of violating U.S. employment laws. Agents apprehended 27 individuals without legal status, who were taken into custody for administrative immigration violations. As of now, 22 remain in ICE custody pending further proceedings.
The agency stated that the case is still under investigation and declined to provide additional comments at this time.
Cotton Holdings, the parent company of the subcontractor involved, said it is cooperating with authorities. “We are continuing our cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security in this matter involving a subcontractor, and we have clear standards for our partners to ensure full compliance with applicable laws,” the company said in a statement sent to KRIS 6 News.
Cotton Holdings is the parent company of Cotton Global Disaster Solutions (GDS), which oversees several entities, including Cotton Commercial, according to KRIS 6 News.
The operation sparked strong emotions on campus. The following Monday, several students and members of the local community held a peaceful protest to express their opposition to ICE’s presence on university grounds, KRIS 6 News also reported.
The President of the United States had recently announced the possibility of suspending workplace arrests in certain key sectors such as construction, food service, and hospitality. A new program could be created to support immigrants working in those industries, President Donald Trump had suggested.
