After a thorough investigation lasting two years, federal authorities detained 48 workers for immigration violations at a South Carolina metal foundry. Six individuals, including two senior managers, face state charges. Authorities announced these developments on Thursday.
Operation Details
On Wednesday, federal and local security agencies raided Burnstein von Seelen Precision Castings in Abbeville. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took the workers into custody for alleged immigration violations. The plant manager and the company’s human resources director were arrested for knowingly hiring unauthorized immigrants. State Attorney General Alan Wilson detailed this during a press conference.
A state grand jury indicted the company executives along with four others accused of producing and selling fake federal and state IDs with information gained through identity theft. Burnstein von Seelen, founded in 1985, manufactures metal components using copper, brass, and bronze alloys, as described on its website. The company is based in Abbeville County, near the Georgia border and around 90 miles west of Columbia.
“We want to send a message that this isn’t about targeting people trying to feed their families,” Wilson stated. “This isn’t about targeting businesses unknowingly hiring individuals in irregular situations. It is about addressing a larger conspiracy across South Carolina to impersonate identities and create fake Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, and immigration documents.”
Legal Proceedings
The two company executives are expected to appear on Thursday in Richland County court, facing charges of conspiracy and identity fraud for employment. It remains unknown if they have legal representation for these charges.
Investigation and Reactions
ICE officials are reviewing the immigration status of the detained workers, some of whom have had prior encounters with the agency or have deportation orders. The investigation is ongoing, with potential for more formal charges and arrests. The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina is seeking further details on the workers’ detention and has expressed skepticism about initial government statements due to past inaccurate descriptions of similar ICE operations.
Jace Woodrum, executive director of the group, remarked, “In essence, these employees went to work, and many can’t return home to their families. We’ve seen similar actions in other states involving serious violations of individual freedoms guaranteed to all, regardless of immigration status.”
Background of the Case
State authorities began the investigation in October 2024. Initially frustrated with the lack of federal action against fake IDs and identity theft during former President Joe Biden’s administration, the situation changed when President Donald Trump took office last year, bringing federal authorities into the state-led investigation.
This raid was atypical compared to widespread deportation efforts under Trump, which have faced criticism. Immigration raids at workplaces are less common in the deportation strategy, with state authorities playing a crucial role in this South Carolina investigation. These efforts were similar to drug investigations, targeting not only users of fake documentation but also suppliers, according to prosecutor Creighton Waters.