Deputies check worker status at new jail

Updated at 4:51 p.m.

Onslow County deputies conducted a spot security check of workers at the new jail Thursday.

Sheriff Brown made it clear to the more than 150 workers that the check was not about immigration enforcement; however, anyone identified as an illegal worker would be dealt with according to the law, he said.

Brown had deputies gather the contract workers together unannounced at 8:30 a.m. Speaking through deputies fluent in Spanish, Brown told the workers he had observed their work habits since the project began. He said he applauded everyone for their hard work and expressed appreciation for their commitment.

Then he asked them to line up for a photograph and identity check. Each worker was recorded by name, date of birth and social security or tax number.

“We are concerned with who is working here for security reasons,” Brown said after the check was complete. “We want to know who is building the new jail.”

Brown said the check was not the first and would not be the last.

Any worker who did not have identifying information with him was given a week to produce the proper paperwork.

There are 27 different contract companies working at the Justice Complex, said Tommy Pounds, the project manager with Brennan and Associates, Inc., the firm contracted to build the new jail. He added the new jail is on schedule for completion early next year.

The downtown five-story, 528-bed jail, with a three-story sheriff’s office, is budgeted at $57 million.

Sheriff Ed Brown summoned everyone working on the new Onslow County Justice Complex to the second floor of the Complex Building at 8:30 a.m. for security check purposes, according to a press release from the OCSO.

Brown advised the workers he had observed their work habits since the project started almost two years ago and applauded everyone for their hard work as he expressed his appreciation for their commitment to the task at hand, according to the release.

Brown explained the objective of the meeting was to identify the persons working on the Complex by name, date of birth, social security number or tax number, and a photograph, according to the release. He also told the workers that was not about enforcing immigration laws. However, persons identified as illegal was a concern. 

Brown informed everyone they may return back to work as normal once the requested information has been collected and for those who are illegal workers would be expected to go through the process to become legal, because a follow up security check will occur at a later date.

Brown spoke to the workers through the assistance of employees of the Sheriff’s Office who are fluent with the Spanish language or are of Spanish dissent, according to the release. A prepared form in both English and Spanish was provided to the workers. 

The form, which the OCSO provided The Daily News with, reads:

ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A SOCIAL

SECURITY CARD OR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

AVAILABLE TODAY, WITHIN ONE WEEK FROM

TODAY YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PRESENT YOUR

SOCIAL SECURITY CARD OR TAX IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER TO MR. TOMMY POUNDS AT HIS

CONSTRUCTION SITE OFFICE. 

          THANK YOU.

CADA UNO DE USTEDES QUE NO PUEDAN PRESENTAR SU CARTILLA DE SEGURO SOCIAL O SU IDENTIFICACION DE SU TAXAS EL DIA DE HOY, TENDRAN QUE PRESENTARLAS EN UNA SEMANA A PARTIR DEL DIA DE HOY AL SENOR TOMMY POUNDS EN SU OFICINA.

 GRACIAS.

Onslow County deputies conducted a spot security check of workers at the new jail this morning.

Legal work status was part of the check for noncitizens, which included warrant and fugitive checks for everyone, Sheriff Ed Brown said.

“We are concerned with who is working here for security reasons,” he said. “We want to know who is building the new jail.”

Brown said this was not the first spot check deputies have done. He said he should have more information this afternoon about whether any of the workers are in violation of immigration or other laws.

The check was conducted unannounced with about a dozen deputies identifying, photographing and interviewing more than 150 workers.

There are 27 different contract companies working at the Justice Complex, said Tommy Pounds, the project manager with Brennan and Associates, Inc., the firm contracted to build the new jail. He added the new jail is on schedule for completion early next year.

The downtown five-story, 528-bed jail, with a three-story sheriff’s office, is budgeted at $57 million.