Federal officials say they made eight arrests during an immigration investigation and raid in Madison.
Officials with U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly called ICE, said the multi-agency operation took place Tuesday at Manitou Equipment and Global Polymer Industries worksites.
All eight workers arrested are in the country illegally and used fake IDs to get hired, according to an ICE statement. Five worked at Global Polymer Industries and three worked at Manitou. They all came from the Central American nations of Nicaragua, El Salvador or Guatemala.
The individuals are being held by ICE "pending removal proceedings."
We arrested 8 illegal aliens at a Madison worksite operation — each used fake IDs to get hired.
— HSI Saint Paul (@HSISaintPaul) May 14, 2025
🔎Sioux Falls resident agent in charge drove critical investigative work — including audits, fieldwork & more. This is what frontline enforcement looks like.https://t.co/RqjHepqCQw
In a statement, Ice Homeland Security Investigations St. Paul Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt said worksite enforcement actions like these are critical to "uphold the law and protect the integrity of the U.S. labor market."
“Employers who knowingly hire individuals without legal work authorization not only undermine our nation’s immigration laws but also exploit vulnerable populations,” said Holt. “These enforcement actions make it clear: illegal hiring practices aren’t limited to major metropolitan areas — they are happening in small towns across rural America, and we will continue to hold violators accountable, wherever they operate.”
It’s unclear whether either business faces legal consequences following the arrests. A spokesperson for Manitou said the company is committed to complying with U.S. employment laws.
The raid came days after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees ICE, delivered a commencement speech at Dakota State University in Madison.
ICE conducted the operation with support from the FBI, Internal Revenue Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Madison Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.