Immigration Law

Immigration Agents Arrest 49 During Raids Of Dallas Night Clubs

By Robert Kraft

The Dallas Morning News reports today that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided more than two dozen mostly Latino night clubs, restaurants, pool halls and other businesses Saturday night, arresting 49 undocumented immigrants employed as security guards. Here are excerpts from the story:

All of those arrested work for two local security companies, which authorities declined to identify Sunday.

At 11 p.m. Saturday, teams made up of local, state and federal officers simultaneously hit 26 businesses in the Love Field area, northwest Dallas, Old East Dallas and Lakewood. No injuries were reported.

Authorities recovered four pistols. Federal law prohibits illegal immigrants from possessing firearms.

Those arrested also face charges of being in the country illegally.

Five of the suspects face charges of document tampering in order to get licensed as a security officer and to carry a firearm, Ms. Bradfield said. That is a third-degree felony, and the punishment range is two to 10 years.

"Hopefully, this operation will help us send a message that we will not tolerate the falsification of documents for undocumented aliens under the guise of providing security," said Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins in a statement Sunday.

Four of those arrested were from El Salvador, and the others were Mexican, authorities said.

In addition to ICE and the district attorney's office, the following agencies also participated Saturday night: the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Dallas Police Department; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas.

Businesses raided

1. Az De Oro Night Club, 3320 Samuel Blvd., Dallas
2. Far West Night Club, 7331 Gaston Ave., Dallas
3. Ojeda's Restaurant, 4617 Maple Ave., Dallas
4. El Penasco, 4601 Maple Ave., Dallas
5. Izalco Bar, 4605 Maple Ave., Dallas
6. Palacio, 4430 Maple Ave., Dallas
7. Metropolis, 8416 Denton Dr., Dallas
8. El Pulpo Restaurant, 2829 W. Northwest Hwy., Suite 330, Dallas
9. Los Compass Deli and Club, 2829 W. Northwest Hwy., Suite 216, Dallas
10. Taqueria Lupita's, Webb Chapel Ext., Dallas
11. Terry's Supermarket, 3025 Webb Chapel Ext., Dallas
12. Extravaganza Restaurant and Bar, 2905 Webb Chapel Ext., Dallas
13. Billares Puebla, 2900 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas
14. Guerrero Bar, 2900 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 220, Dallas
15. Exclusiva, 2900 Walnut Hill Ln., Suite 200, Dallas
16. La Frontera, 9744 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas
17. La Pachanga, 9745 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas
18. Los Corrales Restaurant and Bar, 10229 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas
19. El Diamante, 4915 Singleton Blvd., Dallas
20. Club de Cache, 9100 N. Central Exp., Suite 300, Dallas
21. Oficina Billares, 10830 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas
22. Viva Cafe and Billiards, 2829 W. Northwest Hwy., Suite 330, Dallas
23. Dallas Gentleman's Club, 2117 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas
24. 039 Club, 1820 W. Mockingbird Ln., Dallas
25. Orienta Night Club II, 8120 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas
26. La Tormenta, 9834 Brockbank Dr., Dallas

Full post as published by Immigration Law Answers Blog on March 31, 2008 (boomark / email).