Jim Kouri
Nuclear security: Feds nail three illegal aliens at nuclear plant
By Jim Kouri
In the latest in a series of arrests involving illegal aliens at nuclear facilities, federal agents arrested three illegal aliens in Blair, Nebraska, on September 15 when they attempted to enter the outer secure area of the Omaha Public Power District's Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station to perform contract work at the plant for the first time.
The three men, all citizens of Mexico, had been hired by an independent contractor to perform maintenance work at the nuclear facility. As they attempted to enter a secure area of the plant, the men presented identification documents that raised the suspicions of Omaha Public Power District security officers. The officers contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for assistance. ICE agents responded and arrested the men after determining that they were illegally present in the United States.
All three men have been placed in immigration removal proceedings. ICE agents are investigating the circumstances under which the private contractor hired the illegal aliens. ICE agents have determined that the illegal aliens were not engaged in any terrorist activity.
America's security depends on controlling access to sensitive facilities like nuclear power plants ICE works closely with these industries across the nation to identify vulnerabilities that pose a potential security threat.
The enforcement action in Nebraska is the latest in a series of ICE arrests involving illegal aliens performing contract work at nuclear plants and other nuclear-related facilities around the country. To date, there have been 56 investigations of nuclear power plants and 1,005 related employers, and 64,835 employee audits have been completed.
In another national security-related case — this one in New Jersey — four company owner/operators of a Mount Laurel business pleaded guilty to charges that they used their business to illegally transfer sensitive national security controlled items to state-sponsored research institutes within the People's Republic of China.
All of the defendants are naturalized U.S. citizens. Xu Weibo pleaded guilty to a three-count Information charging one count of conspiracy to violate the Export Administration Act and the Arms Export Control Act, and one count each of violating the Export Administration Act and the Arms Export Control Act. Xiu Ling Chen, Hao Li Chen, and Kwan Chun Chan each pleaded guilty to one-count Information charging conspiracy to violate United States export laws, namely the Export Administration Act and the Arms Export Control Act. Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2006.
Sources: Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, American Society for Industrial Security, National Association of Chiefs of Police Private Security Committee
© Jim Kouri
In the latest in a series of arrests involving illegal aliens at nuclear facilities, federal agents arrested three illegal aliens in Blair, Nebraska, on September 15 when they attempted to enter the outer secure area of the Omaha Public Power District's Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station to perform contract work at the plant for the first time.
The three men, all citizens of Mexico, had been hired by an independent contractor to perform maintenance work at the nuclear facility. As they attempted to enter a secure area of the plant, the men presented identification documents that raised the suspicions of Omaha Public Power District security officers. The officers contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for assistance. ICE agents responded and arrested the men after determining that they were illegally present in the United States.
All three men have been placed in immigration removal proceedings. ICE agents are investigating the circumstances under which the private contractor hired the illegal aliens. ICE agents have determined that the illegal aliens were not engaged in any terrorist activity.
America's security depends on controlling access to sensitive facilities like nuclear power plants ICE works closely with these industries across the nation to identify vulnerabilities that pose a potential security threat.
The enforcement action in Nebraska is the latest in a series of ICE arrests involving illegal aliens performing contract work at nuclear plants and other nuclear-related facilities around the country. To date, there have been 56 investigations of nuclear power plants and 1,005 related employers, and 64,835 employee audits have been completed.
In another national security-related case — this one in New Jersey — four company owner/operators of a Mount Laurel business pleaded guilty to charges that they used their business to illegally transfer sensitive national security controlled items to state-sponsored research institutes within the People's Republic of China.
All of the defendants are naturalized U.S. citizens. Xu Weibo pleaded guilty to a three-count Information charging one count of conspiracy to violate the Export Administration Act and the Arms Export Control Act, and one count each of violating the Export Administration Act and the Arms Export Control Act. Xiu Ling Chen, Hao Li Chen, and Kwan Chun Chan each pleaded guilty to one-count Information charging conspiracy to violate United States export laws, namely the Export Administration Act and the Arms Export Control Act. Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2006.
Sources: Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, American Society for Industrial Security, National Association of Chiefs of Police Private Security Committee
© Jim Kouri
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
