El Paso Standard

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out a federal criminal search warrant at a rental equipment business in San Juan on February 21, 2025. This action is part of an ongoing investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which focuses on establishments allegedly involved in labor exploitation and the employment of undocumented individuals from the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

The operation was led by ICE HSI and supported by various federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Enforcement Removal Operations, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the FBI.

No arrests were made during the execution of the search warrant; however, ICE HSI seized documents and digital media devices for evidence purposes. The seized items included employment records, tax records, I-9 forms, bank statements, sales information, contracts information as well as electronic devices like cellular telephones and computers.

Rebecca González-Ramos, Special Agent in Charge at ICE HSI San Juan stated: “This investigation encompasses several aspects of our mission in Puerto Rico. We are not only enforcing immigration laws but also identifying any labor exploitation crimes including forced labor, a modality of human trafficking.”

The public is encouraged to report suspicious activities to ICE HSI Communication Center at 787-729-6969.

For updates or more information about this case or other related matters from ICE HSI San Juan follow their account on X @HSISanJuan.