ICE agents raid military parachute factory

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ASHEVILLE, N.C., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Federal immigration agents raided a parachute manufacturer in North Carolina, citing national security concerns as they detained 59 alleged illegal aliens.

Authorities apprehended the undocumented workers laboring on the Mill Manufacturing assembly line making parachutes for U.S. military forces, WCNC-TV of Charlotte, N.C., reported Wednesday.

Del Richburg, assistant special agent in charge for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Charlotte, said removing the illegal immigrants eliminated a threat to members of the military who used those parachutes.

Mills Manufacturing in Asheville, N.C., has made parachutes for the military since World War II, the newspaper said.

Immigration agents say the company had been given false identity papers provided by the workers.