The federal raid at Howard Industries in Laurel has grown into the largest such operation in United States history, and the investigation is ongoing.

Nearly 600 people suspected of being illegal immigrants have been removed from Howard Industries after a U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation continued Tuesday. That number is up from the 350 originally detained Monday evening.

According to a statement released from federal agents, suspects are from Germany, Peru, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, and Brazil.

“This is probably the largest single site target for law enforcement,” ICE Southern Regional Communications Director Barbara Gonzalez said.

The investigation is continuing, Gonzalez said. When asked about possible fines or criminal charges against Howard Industries officials, she responded, “The investigation is ongoing and we will go where the evidence leads us.”

Calls and e-mails from the Leader-Call to Howard Industries went unanswered Tuesday.

Eight of the original 350 people accused of being in the country illegally were in court Tuesday. Paula Gomez, Pedro Simon-Vazquez, Fernando Hernandez-Virgen, Maria Montalvo-Guzman, Migual Bartolome-Perez, Angel Rodriguez Flores, Rigoberto Rodriguez, and Doroteo Fernandez Soto each made an initial appearance in United States District Court in Hattiesburg. Each of them face aggravated identity theft charges. The federal charges can carry up to two years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines, along with another year of supervised release.

Each of the alleged illegal immigrants, through interpreters, asked for public defenders. Many of them said they didn’t have any money in the bank and very little cash on hand. Their stated salaries were usually between $1200 to $1800 per month.

The eight are facing the federal charges because they are accused of fraudulently using social security numbers, residency documents, and work-related forms. Most of the fraudulent identities were stolen, but at least one person’s identity was a dead person.

First Assistant U. S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi Stan Harris told the Leader-Call that the cases heard in court Tuesday involved actual victims.

“Identity theft is a growing problem in the United States, and the Department of Justice has prioritized bringing perpetrators of these crimes to justice and protecting the interests of innocent victims,” Harris said.

Magistrate Judge Michael T. Parker explained the proceedings to each defendant and interpreters. He asked each person several times if they understood the charges and everything going on in the courtroom.

It is unknown how many of the additional suspects will face similar charges. Suspects who had an initial appearance will have detention and preliminary hearings Wednesday morning, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Of the 595 suspected illegal immigrants, 106 were found to be eligible for alternative to detention based on humanitarian reasons, Gonzalez said. These individuals were found to be sole caregivers to children or other dependents, nursing mothers, pregnant women, or other people who are the primary source of care to others.

ICE also identified nine juveniles who are all 17 years old. There were eight males and one female who were transferred to the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, Gonzalez said.

“Yesterday’s enforcement action is part of ICE’s ongoing nationwide effort to shut down the employment magnet fueling illegal immigration,” ICE Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Investigations in New Orleans Michael Holt said. “We are committed to strengthening the integrity of our nation’s immigration system.”

After interviewing, fingerprinting, and photographing each of the 595 people, about 475 suspects were taken to an ICE facility in Jena, La., where they will await the outcome of their individual cases. The eight people who appeared in court Tuesday are in custody of the U. S. Marshal’s Service.