Border Official Accused of Hiring Illegal Workers

The affidavit states that in 2004, Henderson recommended her housekeeper to a fellow officer, who learned the next year that the woman was in the country illegally after paying thousands of dollars to enter the U.S. over the Mexican border.

Lorraine Henderson, center, a top Homeland Security official in Boston, departs federal court...

Lorraine Henderson, center, a top Homeland Security official in Boston, departs federal court following an initial appearance, in Boston, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008. Henderson, who acts as Boston Area Port Director, was arrested Friday at her home in Salem, Mass., and has been accused of repeatedly hiring illegal immigrants to clean her home. Man at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

(AP)

The officer told the housekeeper she couldn't work for her and confronted Henderson during a ride home in 2006, telling her it was illegal to continue to employ the woman. According to the affidavit, Henderson told the officer she was never home when the woman cleaned and communicated with her only by note or telephone — not in person.

Two years later, the officer learned Henderson was still employing the housekeeper and reported Henderson to a supervisor, the affidavit states.

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The housekeeper was then interviewed by a Customs agent and agreed to wear a wire and record calls to Henderson. During one meeting in September, the woman told Henderson she'd come to the U.S. without a visa and just stayed, according to the affidavit.

Henderson warned, "Wow, wow, if you leave they won't let you back ... you can't leave, don't leave ... 'cause once you leave you will never be back," according to the affidavit.

The woman cleaned Henderson's home three times after that meeting.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John McNeil would not comment after the court hearing on the immigration status of the three illegal immigrants who are witnesses against Henderson, or say whether they were in custody.

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Associated Press writer Jay Lindsay contributed to this story.

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