Eight migrants have been accused of looting a flooded Tennessee County.
Tennessee’s Washington County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the migrants’ arrests, saying the individuals were workers who took advantage of vulnerable areas.
Three of the alleged perpetrators were charged with burglary, while the other five were charged with aggravated burglary for breaking into occupied structures.
The sheriff’s office told the New York Post that the migrants are legally present in the country through work visas.
According to Public Information Officer Susan Taylor, the migrants are “farm workers here legally on work visas.”
“As we deal with flooding that washed away nearly half of Washington County, leaving residents without homes, without roads and without food and water, we are dealing with looting,” Saylor told Newsweek. “Anyone caught breaking into occupied or unoccupied structures will be arrested and charged.”
It is unknown if the burglaries occurred in homes or businesses.