The Associated Press
Wednesday, January 31, 2007; 8:00 PM

HOUSTON -- Federal agents arrested 53 suspected illegal immigrants Wednesday after raiding a trash collection plant, officials said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said those arrested at the Republic Services Inc. plant near Houston face deportation. Many of the immigrants are from El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Agents detained workers hired through temporary agencies, said Will Flower, a spokesman for the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company. The company has no oversight on how the temporary staffing agencies that provide workers to Republic comply with federal regulations, he said.

The company has yet to learn why some workers were arrested, Flower said.

"It could be as simple as they came to work without their green card," he said.

Republic Services had immigration problems in 2005 that resulted in a change of management at the plant.

"We believe we are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations," Flower said.

Those arrested could also face federal charges for violations that include re-entering the country after deportation and using fraudulent documents to gain employment, immigration authorities said.

Wednesday's raid is the latest in a string of immigration arrests in recent months, including nearly 1,300 in meatpacking plants in six states in December, and more than 750 in metropolitan Los Angeles last week.