Federal agents have arrested nine undocumented workers who were employed by a subcontractor at Dugway Proving Ground, located 80 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.

Military authorities said the immigrants were working in an area several miles from where the Department of Defense's chemical and biological testing is done.

The workers, Mexican nationals, were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Thursday evening inside the perimeter of the site.

The foreign nationals were employed by Spacecon West, a subcontractor hired to do maintenance and construction work at the facility. ICE agents say two of those arrested had Utah identification cards, but none had valid work authorization documents.

"We are working closely with the authorities at the Dugway Proving Ground in this ongoing investigation and are receiving the military's full cooperation," said Joseph Romel, assistant special agent-in-charge for ICE investigations in Utah. "This is another example of how ICE is using its unique immigration enforcement authorities to safeguard work sites and installations that are potentially vulnerable to security threats or sabotage."

The lead in the case came as a result of a Project Shield America visit by ICE agents to the Proving Ground last week. During that visit, military representatives advised ICE about their suspicions that some subcontractors on the base were using unauthorized workers.

Project Shield America is an ongoing effort by ICE to prevent the illegal acquisition and export of sensitive technology and weaponry. As part of the initiative, ICE agents conduct regular outreach visits to companies and facilities involved in the production and export of sensitive military technology.

Alex Segura, director of the Utah Minuteman Project, said the arrests are another example of an indication that legislation is needed to require employers verify workers' Social Security numbers.

In 2001, an airport security crackdown saw 271 employees fired and the arrest of 69 of those for allegedly falsifying documentation or lying about their status to obtain jobs.

"We're looking at probable identity fraud, to them on the base," Segura said. "We're not saying they had any intent to do anything wrong other than work, but it could have been anyone . . . It could have been al-Qaida."

However, Tony Yapias, director of Proyecto Latino de Utah, said the overwhelming majority are "people who are just looking for an opportunity to work."

Yapias said he understands concerns about those without documentation working in sensitive areas.

"There needs to be better community outreach," he said. "We need to address this issue . . . if they are working in a sensitive area, they need to understand they are taking a huge risk."

Recently, House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee members decided not to act on HB179, sponsored by Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden. The bill, which Donnelson said he may revise, would require Utah businesses verify the Social Security numbers of new hires through the Department of Homeland Security.

---

E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com