Seven of the 11 immigrants stopped by federal agents were undocumented.

WATERVILLE (AP) – Eleven illegal aliens employed at a newly opened restaurant faced deportation proceedings following their arrest by federal agents after an unplanned traffic stop, authorities said.

After being taken into custody late Monday in Waterville, the two Chinese nationals and nine Mexicans were transported to the Department of Homeland Security office of Border Patrol in Rangeley, according to Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Frank Blauvelt.

All 11 were employed by Grand Asian Buffet, which opened in late March.

“We had a couple of agents there (in Waterville) on other business when they encountered a van and performed a vehicle stop,” he said. “There was no planned operation.”

One of the agents is an intelligence specialist whose suspicions were aroused by the large 2001 Dodge van with New Mexico license plates registered to a Chinese man and being driven by a white female with about 20 passengers, Blauvelt said.

He said seven passengers in the van were found to be without documents. Waterville police later visited the nearby Budget Host motel, where four more were arrested, bringing the total to 11.

Blauvelt said the Chinese people, a man and a woman both in their late 20s, had been smuggled into the United States.

Chen King, co-owner of the Grand Asian Buffet, said Tuesday the Border Patrol visit did not happen by chance.

He said his popular restaurant, which seats 420 people, has become the target of competitors.

King said he hires people with immigrant identification, but some lie and tell him they are waiting for their work visa, or green card.

Blauvelt said the two Chinese people claimed that they paid to be smuggled into the United States.

The Chinese man was released on his own recognizance and must appear in federal court in Boston for a deportation hearing. The Mexican nationals will be sent back to their homeland.

Blauvelt said the process of handling illegal workers differs for each country under U.S. law and agreements with the various nations.

He said the case involving Grand Asian Buffet has been turned over to criminal investigators because hiring illegal aliens is against the law. Blauvelt added that employers often get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to workers and their status as legal immigrants.

“There are several steps in the process,” he said. “Proving knowledge is a very difficult thing to do.”

AP-ES-05-05-04 1258EDT