Federal authorities rounded up nearly 40 illegal aliens from China and Taiwan during an operation at an underground nightclub in Southern California this weekend.
The raid unfolded on Friday at an undisclosed location in the Los Angeles area.
Officers and agents with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force descended upon the facility during the overnight hours.
A total of 36 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally were taken into custody, HSI Los Angeles announced.
Authorities can be seen marching suspects into waiting vans in footage shared by HSI.
“The group is a multi-agency initiative of federal and state investigators focused on financial crimes in Southern California,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
On Wednesday, the same task force rounded up 14 suspects “involved in fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief and SBA funding totaling over $25 million.”
“Today’s enforcement action is intended to send a message to all criminals who take advantage of government programs designed to help those who need them most. If you took COVID-19 or SBA money you weren’t entitled to, your door could be the next one we visit,” stated Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.
“Together with our law enforcement partners, my office will aggressively prosecute individuals who cheat the system meant to protect and support law-abiding citizens.”