ICE arrests four undocumented immigrants at Northeast Philly grocery store
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said those arrested had no legal authority to be in the United States.
ICE agents arrested four undocumented Brazilian immigrants during a Feb. 27 operation at a Northeast Philadelphia market, the agency said Thursday.
The arrests at Jumbo Meat Market, on the 7300 block of Castor Avenue in the Rhawnhurst neighborhood, rank among the larger ICE operations in the city under President Donald Trump’s administration.
In January, seven undocumented workers were arrested when agents raided a North Philadelphia car wash.
Shoppers commenting about Jumbo Meat Market online described it as brimming with Brazilian treats, desserts, and delicacies.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said those arrested at the market had no legal authority to enter or remain in the United States, or had violated the terms of their earlier, lawful admission to the country.
Following the arrests, Jumbo Meat Market posted a statement on Instagram confirming its workers were detained “for verification.”
“We are providing all the necessary support, including legal assistance. We will continue to monitor the situation and maintain our commitment to our employees,” read the statement in Portuguese.
Workers at the store said Thursday that they could not further comment on the arrests. ICE officials in Philadelphia did not immediately provide additional information.
Edward V. Owens, the special agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Philadelphia, said worksite enforcement was crucial to the integrity of the nation’s employment laws.
“ICE remains steadfast in its commitment to targeting employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers, as well as those undocumented aliens who exploit the system,” he said in a statement.
Federal law requires employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of those they hire.
Employers who knowingly hire undocumented immigrants can face civil fines and criminal penalties, including jail time, if they are shown to have engaged in a “pattern or practice” of violations. Few employers ever face criminal charges, however.