U.S. arrests about 195 in immigration crackdown

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. agents arrested about 195 people in more than a dozen states in a crackdown on illegal immigrants involving a maintenance business for theme restaurants like Hard Rock Cafe, officials said on Thursday.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency also

charged three individuals who operated the company with failing to pay more than $18.6 million in federal employment taxes and for hiding the profits which were later used to buy luxury boats, homes and racehorses.

The immigration agency unsealed a 23-count indictment against three Florida residents who operated the business, Rosenbaum-Cunningham International Inc., for harboring illegal immigrants, tax evasion and conspiracy.

The firm provided cleaning and maintenance services to popular hospitality venues and restaurants like Hard Rock Cafe, ESPN Zone and House Of Blues, taking in more than $54.3 million between 2001 and 2005, the immigration service said.

"Employers who brazenly violate our immigration laws will be held accountable for their illicit actions," Julie Myers, assistant secretary of homeland security in charge the immigration agency, said in a statement.

Officials arrested about 195 people in 17 states and the District of Columbia for violations of immigration status.

A message on an answering machine for the Florida business said it had ceased operations as of Thursday. The government said its investigation was ongoing.

The Bush administration and Congress have been trying to draft legislation aimed at dealing with the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States and the roughly 12 million already in the country.