Federal immigration officers arrested 37 individuals on Wednesday during a raid at a roofing company in northern Washington.
Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations unit and Customs and Border Protection conducted the operation at Mt. Baker Roofing’s warehouse in Bellingham, a city close to the Canadian border, at approximately 7:30 a.m.
Reportedly, Tomas Fuerte told Cascadia Daily News that law enforcement approached the scene armed as if targeting criminals. According to Fuerte, they contained the workers in a room at the rear of the building, using a list and photographs to identify and detain those who were undocumented.
The detained individuals were reportedly transported in two buses, an event that Fuerte, who has worked at the company for 12 years, claimed was unprecedented.
ICE spokesperson David Yost stated the raid resulted from a federal search warrant tied to an ongoing criminal investigation regarding the illegal employment of individuals without proper work authorization, in violation of federal law.
According to Yost, the 37 arrested persons had misrepresented their immigration status and provided fraudulent documentation or information to obtain employment.
Mt. Baker Roofing released a statement in the afternoon expressing their cooperation with authorities and commitment to ensuring their employees are treated fairly and respectfully under the law.
ICE reported making 32,809 arrests during the first 50 days of President Donald Trump’s tenure, averaging 656 daily arrests, a significant increase from the daily average of 311 in the previous year ending September 30.
While these figures surpass those of the Biden administration, they do not equate to the mass deportations Trump advocated during his campaign. Large-scale factory and office raids, which marked his initial term and that of former President George W. Bush, have been largely avoided in favor of smaller operations.
Criminal charges against business owners remain rare; however, fines are commonly imposed.
This report originally appeared on Fortune.com.