WASHINGTON -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested more than 50 illegal immigrants employed by a luxury resort in northern Virginia early Tuesday.

Agents interviewed about 100 employees, which led to 53 arrests at Lansdowne Resort, officials said. Six more illegal immigrants were arrested outside the resort.

Those arrested were detained because they could not prove their legal status.

Two women were released at the resort because of undisclosed humanitarian concerns.

The arrests stem from an investigation that began in July after a routine inspection of the resort's I-9 employment forms. Agents suspected that many employees were using fraudulent documents or stolen identities to get their jobs.

"Today’s enforcement action is part of ICE's nationwide aggressive pursuit of unauthorized workers and employers who violate the law," said Mark X. McGraw, deputy special agent in charge of ICE's D.C. office of investigations. "Companies that use cheap, illegal alien labor as a business model should be on notice that ICE is dramatically enhancing its enforcement efforts against illegal employment schemes."

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The 59 people arrested are from El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. They all face removal proceedings. Personnel from ICE, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Division of Immigration Health Services will interview those arrested and have access to social services in case of any medical, sole-caregiver or other humanitarian situations. ICE will determine if the detainees will remain in custody or be considered for humanitarian release.

Family members of those arrested can call 866-341-3858 with questions about detention status and the removal process.

Agents said that, although Lansdowne faces fines, it will not be charged criminally and is cooperating.

Immigration advocates said ICE is wasting taxpayer resources. However, ICE disagreed, saying the raid was significant. ICE agents said they hope to use the Lansdowne raid to send a message to illegal immigrants.