15 Illegal Immigrants Detained Near LNG Terminal

EVERETT, Mass. -- Fifteen illegal immigrants were taken into custody Thursday on the Everett waterfront near a liquefied natural gas terminal.

NewsCenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that the 15 men and women were turned over to immigration and customs authorities because they were apparently undocumented workers from Ecuador.

They were observed walking through the Exxon-Mobil facility toward the LNG terminal without the proper gear or identification. Officials said they also approached the wrong entrance.

"Some of them had on their hardhats and personal protective equipment and some did not, which looked a little odd. Security personnel went to question them. As they approached the fence line near Distrigas, during the questioning some folks did not have identification. You cannot get onto the property without proper identification," Everett Police Department Chief Steven Mazzie said.

"We don't think that they were a threat to the area," Everett Mayor John Hanlon said.

Hanlon said the workers were apparently trying to get some equipment stored in the LNG terminal to clean up an oil spill that happened at the Exxon-Mobil facility three weeks ago.

"I am very happy that that security jumped into action as fast as they did. It was an exercise that couldn't have been a better exercise for us -- just to show the security that the security down there and the police department just jumped right in immediately. They did not gain access to the property at all," Hanlon said.

Immigration officials said that 13 men and two women were detained. Two of the people had already been ordered out of the country after undergoing deportation proceedings. The other 13 people are scheduled to go before a judge on charges of being in the state illegally.

Exxon-Mobil said they hired a Fleet Environmental Services. The company is based in Randolph.