South Florida airport workers arrested

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- At least 22 people were arrested at three south Florida airports Friday for allegedly illegally obtaining access passes to work in secure areas of the facilities, according to federal law enforcement sources.

Some of those arrested worked for companies that clean and fuel aircraft and others for companies contracted by airlines to service food carts that are loaded onto planes.

Pre-dawn arrests took place at homes and airports in Miami-Dade, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach counties.

Those picked up face charges that include immigration fraud and making false statements on applications to obtain the passes.

All are expected to make initial appearances in federal courtrooms in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach later Friday.

By early Friday morning, seven people had been arrested in Miami-Dade County, another seven in Fort Lauderdale County, and eight more in West Palm Beach County. The operation was carried out by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, the FBI, the U.S. Customs Service and the Department of Transportation.

A law enforcement official said that while sweeps had taken place at these airports before and after the September 11 attacks, this is the first multi-agency operation conducted in south Florida.