Louisiana ICE Agents Raid Welding Company After Owner Refuses to Hand Over Records

NEW ORLEANS, LA- ICE’s immigration crackdown found its way to the Louisiana bayou country last week as the agency announced a crackdown on illegal employment in New Orleans, resulting in the detention of 25. 

According to a press release, ICE Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans, supported by Enforcement and Removal Operations New Orleans, conducted an “intelligence-driven operation” that targeted “immigration violations involving employees of Big ‘B’ Services, LLC, doing business as Barrois Welding Services.” The operation took place at a shipyard in Harvey, Louisiana. 

The operation was initiated pursuant to an investigation by HSI New Orleans this past March, following the arrest of a man employed by Barrois Welding Services for immigration violations. During that operation, HSI New Orleans served a Notice of Inspection and an Immigration Subpoena on Russel E. Barrois, the company's owner. After multiple requests, Barrois refused to provide the required employee documentation, including Form I-9s, identification documents, or a current employee listing. 

HSI New Orleans agents conducted an inspection at the workplace on Oct. 30, 2025, during which 25 illegal aliens from Honduras were encountered. Among the illegal Honduran nationals arrested were some with criminal histories including prior illegal entry, DUI, and discharge of a firearm within city limits, and resisting an officer by giving false information. 

HSI New Orleans Deputy Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright credited the significance of the operation and the importance of taking criminal illegal aliens off the street and sending them back to their home countries. 

“This operation demonstrates our commitment to enforcing immigration laws and holding employers accountable. We will continue to investigate and take action against those who fail to comply with the law,” said Wright. 

The release also highlighted the IMAGE program, part of a comprehensive strategy to increase the security of the United States through workforce compliance. IMAGE is “a mutual agreement between government and employers providing solutions to hiring process challenges through outreach and education with the goal of fostering workforce integrity and compliance with the law.”