In a major enforcement action on Wednesday, federal immigration agents descended upon a warehouse facility in the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, resulting in the detention of 46 workers suspected of being in the country illegally. New Jersey 101.5+3FOX 5 New York+3CBS News+3
The operation—carried out by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—took place inside a bonded container freight station operated by international logistics firm Savino Del Bene on Englehard Avenue, where the company runs its U.S. headquarters. Patch+1
According to DHS, the 46 detainees accounted for roughly 22 percent of the facility’s onsite workforce, marking an unusually large-scale workplace immigration enforcement event for the region. Fox News+2FOX 5 New York+2
Community and labor advocates responded swiftly. One mother, whose 18-year-old son was among those taken into custody, described the raid as “something I’ve never seen” and voiced concern over how families will cope in the aftermath. CBS News+1
Local legislators representing the district, including Craig Coughlin, Joe Vitale and Yvonne Lopez, issued a joint statement emphasizing their commitment to upholding due process and protecting residents, while also affirming the obligation of employers and workers to adhere to U.S. immigration and labor laws. Patch+1
The warehouse is among the latest in a series of similar targeted raids across Middlesex County this year. In the past few months, agents have carried out enforcement actions at other industrial and warehouse sites, raising questions about the prevalence of undocumented labor in the region’s logistics sector. New Jersey 101.5
Federal officials state that the inspection was conducted as part of DHS’s broader mission to ensure compliance with customs, immigration and supply-chain security regulations. The fact that the site is a bonded facility under CBP oversight makes it a strategic target for this kind of enforcement work. Patch+1
From a local perspective, the event has triggered both fear and debate in the community. Advocates warn of the ripple effects on families—children returning home without a parent, colleagues unsure of their status and livelihoods, and broader uncertainty affecting worker morale. Law-makers say the incident underscores the complexity of balancing immigration enforcement with economic realities in New Jersey’s manufacturing and logistics hubs.
For residents interested in the evolving interplay between law-enforcement action and community impact across the state, see our coverage in law & order at Explore New Jersey’s Law & Order section.
As the situation develops—with detainees held pending immigration proceedings, and employers and local officials providing statements—the event serves as a stark reminder of the scale of workplace immigration enforcement in the region and its tangible consequences on communities, families and regional labor markets.
