On Thursday, federal officials announced the arrest of at least 46 undocumented workers following a significant operation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at a freight warehouse located in Avenel, New Jersey, on Wednesday.

This operation was part of an ongoing effort by law enforcement to ensure adherence to immigration regulations at a federally authorized container freight station.

According to officials, DHS agents identified 46 undocumented workers, which accounted for approximately 22% of the workforce present at the facility.

These individuals were taken into federal custody and are now awaiting immigration proceedings, as reported by the DHS.

Footage from surveillance cameras captured the intense moments when federal officers led groups of workers to several waiting vans, with the warehouse area heavily secured by law enforcement during the operation.

The agency said the inspection was part of ongoing efforts to “safeguard the integrity of the supply chain and verify that warehouse operators are adhering to all applicable security requirements.”

“DHS is committed to maintaining the highest levels of security and accountability within bonded facilities to protect both US commerce and the public,” a DHS spokesperson said. 

Officials did not name the company operating the warehouse or indicate whether the employer could face penalties.

The raid comes nearly two months after federal agents executed a similar operation at a Hyundai-LG battery factory in Georgia, where 475 individuals, primarily South Korean nationals, were detained on suspicion of being in the country illegally, signaling what appears to be a nationwide push on workplace immigration enforcement.