HURON COUNTY (WJRT) -
(03/07/13) - Michigan State Police and the Huron County Sheriff's Department received a special token of appreciation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Both agencies received checks totaling nearly $300,000 for their part in an investigation.
The funding will be used to help fight crime. It stems from an investigation involving illegal immigrants working in Huron County.
Investigators said nearly all of the workers who were employed at a dairy farm in Huron County back in May of 2007 were illegal immigrants.
"Michigan State Police identifying some illegal undocumented workers at Aquila Farms. After two search warrants. An undocumented workforce that was working at the farm. The business practice lead to the fines in penalties totaling $2.7 million," said William Hayes with ICE Homeland Security Investigations.
State Police and the Huron County Sheriff's Department earned a financial "thank you" for their role in the investigation.
The funds will help those agencies update equipment, training facilities and community programs.
"It's certainly a bonus for us. We weren't expecting this. It's going to help us continue the efforts that we've been doing. We take immigration issues very serious," said Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson.
Bruce Walls has lived in the area for 65 years. He remembers plenty of incidents involving people working illegally in Huron County.
"We have to put up with illegal immigration and a lot of the problems that it causes," he said.
The financial windfall came as good news to county residents.
"I think it's great. The county could use the money, the town can use the money and we need everything we can," said John Mahoney.
"There's never enough police, never enough investigators so anytime we can do something that will help that out, it's positive," Walls said.
There are spending guidelines. However, the Huron County sheriff says the money can be used for just about anything related to law enforcement.
