Mall kiosk workers detained
By Laura Arenschield
Staff writer
Sixteen people employed at Cross Creek Mall kiosks were detained Tuesday morning by immigration officials who say they were illegally working in the United States.
Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents started investigating the employees earlier this week after Fayetteville police received a tip the employees could be involved in terrorism, said Tom O’Connell, resident agent in charge of ICE’s office in Cary.
O’Connell said immigration agents do not believe any of them are terrorists.
Jamie Smith, public information officer for the Fayetteville Police Department, said the department received the tip last week. Police called ICE agents and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes federal and local law enforcement agents.
O’Connell said the investigation was quick. He said the 16 came to U.S. airports in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta about a week ago and traveled to Fayetteville. They were let into the country because they held tourist visas, which allow them to travel here but prohibit them from being employed.
Because ICE found out they were working, O’Connell said, all 16 will be deported.
“Everybody’s visa was valid,” O’Connell said Wednesday. “But when you come into the U.S. as a tourist, the ... document that you are admitted on says you are not allowed to work.”
The employees worked for a number of companies, including BonBon Inc., Miracle of the Dead Sea, Aroma Therapy, Zoom Helicopter, Flashing Roller, E. Naftali and Wilcat.
O’Connell said agents are still investigating at least one of the companies’ owners.
None of the owners could be reached Wednesday afternoon.
Fifteen of the 16 who were detained are from Israel, O’Connell said. Those include: Amir Bibi, 23; Amit Waknin, 22; Ofir Bibi, 25; Elad Tsihi, 25; Mordechai Moran Bibi, 22; Elad Deutsch, 22; Shahar Zaitie, 22; Yosef Aviad Levy, 21; Israel Hay Amron, 24; Avishay Bibi, 18; Dana Yeheskel, 24; Ronit Raveh, 20; Eliran Siboni, 22; Beny Morsiano, 25; and Shai Misk, 23.
Ali Bilat, 23, of Turkey also was detained.
O’Connell said the 16 were employed by companies that own the kiosks, but were not paid by the hour or through a salary. He said employers typically paid the employees a percentage of what they sold at kiosks during a shift.
Tammy Hopkins, marketing manager for Cross Creek Mall, said mall managers did not know the kiosk employees were working illegally.
“The expectation is that any business operator complies with federal, state and local guidelines,” she said. “Obviously these operators did not comply.”
Hopkins said owners who did not comply with the law would not be allowed to continue doing business at Cross Creek Mall.
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