Carwash Workers Nabbed By Ins

Fri., Dec. 18, 1998

From Staff

Nine employees of a Kirkland carwash have been arrested by federal immigration agents.

Officers of the Immigration and Naturalization Service served a search warrant Wednesday at the Rose Hill Car Wash after receiving a tip that the business employed undocumented immigrants, INS district director Richard Smith said.

According to him, eight were from Mexico and one was from Brazil.

Those arrested were taken to a detention center in Seattle where they may request a hearing or agree to be immediately deported, Smith said.

“When they give me their IDs I have to assume they’re legal,” said carwash owner Mark Dinwiddie. “They were good workers.”

He said he always has followed federal hiring laws and has potential employees show him Social Security cards and other identification.

Many of the employees had worked at the shop for years, Dinwiddie said.

Three other Hispanic employees were not arrested, he said.

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