Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials descended on a roofing company in Bellingham, Wash., near the Canadian border early Wednesday morning, arresting 37 people in what has been described as the first full-scale workplace raid in Washington state.

According to a statement from ICE, those detained have been charged with misrepresenting their immigration status and providing fraudulent documents to obtain employment.

Despite President Donald Trump’s pledge to carry out mass deportations, Washington has until now not seen raids of this kind, according to numerous immigration lawyers and advocates.

David Yost, a spokesman for ICE, stated that the officers carried out a federal search warrant “as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the illegal employment of aliens lacking legal work authorization, which violates federal law.”

The 37 people who were arrested had “fraudulently represented their immigration status and submitted fraudulent documents and/or information to seek employment,” Yost said.

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The statement cast the raid as part of investigations into “worksite violations and/or the exploitation of workers.”

“Worksite enforcement investigations focus on reducing illegal employment, holding employers accountable and protecting employment opportunities for the country’s lawful workforce,” the statement said.

Following the raid, Mt. Baker Roofing owner Mark Kuske said in an emailed statement that the company was cooperating with authorities and working to gather information.

“It is with a heavy heart that we navigate this moment,” Kuske wrote in the statement, which noted he is a Navy SEAL veteran. 

“Many of those impacted have worked for us, as taxpaying employees, for years, if not decades,” the statement continued. 

“These hardworking individuals were actively supporting our community by helping to build the homes and install the roofs that protect us all from the elements. Many of these individuals are active members of local churches, schools, and communities.”

Kuske went on to say that, beyond “…individual consequences, we must consider the broader implications of today’s events. Policies such as the enforcement action taken today are detrimental to small businesses like ours, making operations harder and driving up consumer prices.”

Wednesday’s arrests were carried out by ICE, U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Customs Border Protection Air and Marine Operations. Officers had a federal search warrant, according to the ICE statement.

Rosalinda Guillén, founder of the Bellingham-based social justice group Community to Community, told the Seattle Times that many people were wondering when such actions would occur in Washington. 

“We were kind of waiting,” she said.

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ICE says it made 32,809 arrests in Trump’s first 50 days in office, as the Associated Press first reported. That was a daily average of 656, up from 311 during the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30.

The action is the latest in a series of stings that have entangled the construction and manufacturing industries in the complicated immigration struggles besetting sectors of the U.S. economy heavily dependent on migrant labor. 

Quick Read: Five Key Takeaways

• First Full-Scale Raid in Washington: ICE’s raid at Mt. Baker Roofing marked Washington state's first large-scale workplace raid, resulting in 37 arrests.  
• Allegations of Fraudulent Employment: Those detained were accused of misrepresenting their immigration status and using fraudulent documents to gain employment.  
• Impact on Small Businesses: Mt. Baker Roofing’s owner criticized the raid's impact on small businesses, warning it would increase costs and complicate operations.  
• Broader Immigration Crackdown: The raid is part of a broader federal effort targeting illegal employment, with ICE arrests surging under the Trump administration.  
• Criticism of Enforcement Tactics: Advocates and local officials expressed concern over the raid, criticizing its impact on communities and questioning the state's worker protection.

Federal authorities can enforce immigration laws in states like Washington, so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions, since immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.

Last month, ICE arrested five members of a roofing crew in Duluth, Minn., as well as several people at a St. Louis manufacturing company.

Edgar Franks, the political director of the farmworkers union Familias Unidas por la Justicia, expressed disbelief at the Mt. Baker Roofing raid given Washington officials' immigrant-friendly policies. 

“We had hoped the governor and attorney general would do more to protect workers,” Franks told The Seattle Times.

Editor Chris Gray contributed to this report.