77 Illegal Aliens Arrested, Many Working On U.S. 82 Bridge

Thursday, March 29th 2007, 8:18 pm

By: News On 6

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Federal officials say 77 illegal aliens working on construction projects in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee have been arrested, including several employed on building a new U.S. 82 bridge between Arkansas and Mississippi.

A statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said many of those arrested worked for Tarrasco Steel of Greenville, Miss. They were employed on construction of the bridge over the Mississippi River between Greenville and Lake Village, Arkansas.

Tarrasco, owned by Jose S. Gonzalez, has been under ICE investigation following allegations of criminal misconduct. Tarrasco Steel provides steel re-bar and employees for construction jobs.

The illegal aliens were working on the Mississippi-Arkansas bridge near Greenville -- the U.S. 90 bridge in Gulfport -- the Huey P. Long bridge in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana -- the Interstate 40 seismic retro fit in Memphis -- and the Louisiana One bridge in Leeville, Louisiana.

At the Greenville site, 36 were arrested.