HSI and law enforcement execute a federal criminal search warrant at Buckeye Fire Equipment in Kings Mountain, NC. Photo from HSI Charlotte.
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC – The Kings Mountain Police Department says it is helping Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with a Homeland Security Investigation at a local business.
HSI posted on X that they were serving a federal criminal search warrant at Buckeye Fire Equipment.
The fire equipment manufacturing company is located on Kings Road.
HSI says this is an active investigation and more details will be shared when they are available.
One employee tells us he and his coworkers were rounded up in two groups, documented and undocumented.
ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams says the raid was related to allegations of identity theft and other possible federal crimes.
“These are allegations that the employer or somebody in their charge used fraudulent documents or incorrect documents to allow people who aren’t authorized to work in this country to work,” said Williams.
The immigration sting was met with protestors as word spread on social media.
“They don’t follow the rules. They don’t follow the laws. They go above the law and do whatever they want at the end of the day.
So it is a little scary,” said Molly Donaldson.
ICE says about 300 people were inside the building when the raid took place. Dulce Cruz’s mom was one of them. We talked to Cruz about four hours after she last heard from her mother as she anxiously waited to see her parent dropped off at the end of the street like other employees.
“Honestly, it’s really scary. I don’t know what’s going to happen to my mom and she’s going to come home or not,” Cruz said.
Williams says the allegations of identity theft is something they take seriously.
“I’ll just assure the viewers that they’re safe. We’re on the case. We’re here protecting American citizens from illegal activity and we’ll continue to do so,” explained Williams.
