Nearly 50 Illegal Immigrants Detained in SC Fake ID Probe
Federal and state authorities detained 48 workers and arrested six people including two managers after a two-year probe into identity fraud at a South Carolina metals casting plant.
Law enforcement raided Burnstein von Seelen Precision Castings in Abbeville on Wednesday in a coordinated operation involving dozens of federal and local officers, as New York Post reports.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers took the workers into custody on immigration violations. The plant’s manager and human resources director were arrested on charges of knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, state Attorney General Alan Wilson revealed at a press conference.
A state grand jury indicted the two company officials along with four other individuals accused of producing and selling fraudulent United States and state identification documents using stolen identity information.
Wilson emphasized the investigation targeted organized criminal activity rather than desperate workers or unknowing employers. The focus centered on a conspiracy spanning South Carolina involving identity theft and the creation of fake Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, and immigration documents.
Burnstein von Seelen officials did not respond to requests for comment from media outlets.
Company Officials Face State Charges
The two managers were scheduled to appear at Richland County Courthouse in Columbia on Thursday to answer charges of criminal conspiracy and identity fraud to obtain employment. Legal representation for the defendants was not immediately confirmed.
Founded in 1985, Burnstein von Seelen specializes in metals casting using copper, brass, and bronze alloys to manufacture various components, according to company information. The facility operates in Abbeville County, a community of approximately 25,000 residents in western South Carolina near the Georgia border, roughly 90 miles west of Columbia.
Immigration Status Under Review
ICE officials confirmed they are reviewing the immigration status of all 48 detained workers. The group includes individuals with prior ICE encounters and some previously issued deportation orders.
Authorities indicated the investigation remains active with additional indictments and arrests possible.
Investigation Shifted After Change in Administration
State officials launched the probe in October 2024. Wilson noted that local law enforcement initially faced frustration over insufficient federal action against false identification and identity theft during President Joe Biden’s administration. Federal participation increased after President Donald Trump assumed office in 2025, he stated.
The workplace raid differed from typical Trump administration mass deportation operations that have drawn criticism. Business-focused immigration enforcement represents a relatively minor component of the broader deportation campaign, with state authorities leading this particular South Carolina investigation.
Prosecutor Creighton Waters explained officials approached the case using methods similar to narcotics investigations, targeting not only those using fraudulent documents but also the suppliers of such materials.
With information from New York Post
