US News

Illegal immigrants working at US airport trigger security scare

Nov 8, 2007, 11:00 GMT

Washington - US authorities Wednesday arrested 23 illegal immigrants who allegedly used fake security badges to work in high-security areas at Chicago's O'hare International Airport, broadcast news reports said.

The workers, who were employed to load food and cargo onto aircraft, had been employed by Ideal Staffing Services Inc, a temporary employment company whose managers allegedly assisted in getting them fake or expired security badges.

An officer and office manager from the company were also arrested as part of an ongoing investigation.

'The investigation identifies a vulnerability that could compromise national security, while bringing criminal charges against individuals who built an illegal work force into their business practice,' Elissa A Brown, special agent in charge for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement office of investigations in Chicago, was quoted as saying by Chicago's WMAQ-TV.

The American network ABC quoted US attorney Patrick Fitzgerald as saying the investigation indicated serious security breaches.

'We can have no tolerance for people who set up businesses for people with fake identities to have access to secure areas of the airport,' he said.