Immigration Enforcement Operations in Baldwin County
A series of immigration enforcement actions is currently unfolding across Baldwin County, with a significant incident occurring on Tuesday at a construction site for the new Gulf Shores High School.
Federal agents, according to reports, conducted operations on June 24 at a site located along the Foley Beach Express. The FBI’s Mobile Office confirmed that 37 workers believed to be in the country illegally were apprehended. This operation is part of an extensive initiative targeting undocumented workers at construction sites throughout the county.
Construction projects in the area are being managed by Love Ren General Contracting, one of Alabama’s largest privately-held contractors. Besides the Gulf Shores High School, the company is also involved in building a new facility for Alabama State University in Montgomery, student housing for Auburn University, and the Margaritaville Resort in Orange Beach. The company previously completed the Saraland Sportsplex.
Witnesses described a tense atmosphere during the operation, noting how agents utilized drones to gain access to the roof of the building. Some bystanders reported seeing individuals attempting to escape as the situation unfolded.
The general contractor, RGC, issued a statement following the arrests. They acknowledged awareness of the immigration enforcement raid at the school construction site and confirmed their cooperation with authorities in the ongoing investigation.
In a joint statement, officials from Gulf City and Gulf Coast City addressed the incident, clarifying that federal immigration inspections had indeed taken place at the Gulf Coast High School construction site. They emphasized that the site is under the general contractor’s control and there were no city or school employees present during the inspection.
This incident marks the first reported immigration enforcement action, including arrests, at a public construction project in Baldwin County. Other private sites are being scrutinized as well. In one case, video footage allegedly showed an individual dodging an agent by running around a pond at Rayleigh Farm. Additional dashcam videos captured law enforcement questioning other suspects at a nearby employment location.
The construction of the new high school represents a significant investment of $137 million, with completion planned for 2026. It remains uncertain how these recent arrests might impact the overall construction schedule.
