Court records show that a Bellingham roofing company knew the Immigration and Customs Enforcement was investigating its workers weeks before an ICE raid led to 37 people being arrested in the early morning on April 2.
Homeland Security investigators got a tip in late January that Mt. Baker Roofing was employing people who did not have legal status in the U.S. A month later, investigators asked the company to prove it was only employing people who were authorized to work.
In total, the company handed over I-9 documentation for 84 people who have worked at the company over the past year. Workers must show they have legal status or work authorization on I-9 forms.
RELATED: Tacoma ICE center detentions spike by nearly 50% since March, says U.S. Rep. Randall
Among those records, investigators found 56 employees either used a fake residency card or falsely reported they were U.S. citizens.
Employers can verify that information using E-Verify, a free tool to check work authorization.
But court records show the employer didn’t use the resource. When asked why, he said it’s not required and much of his competition wouldn’t use it either. In their application for a warrant, investigators alleged the business owner knew about the fake papers. KUOW is not identifying the owner because he has not been convicted of a crime.
“I know from training and experience that employers who hire aliens without valid work authorization for the purpose of cheaper labor often will conceal their...
JD Vance Accuses Bass and Newsom of Inciting Violence *During a tense visit to Los Angeles on Friday (06-20-25), Vice President JD Vance accused California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Ma...