The mayor of Gulf Shores has issued a statement reaffirming the construction quality of a school facility, contrary to a statement by a federal official questioning the structure due to undocumented workers employed at the site.

“The City is also aware of a recent statement by a representative of Homeland Security, as reported in local news that suggests the quality of construction at the school may be in question due to the use of employees who are allegedly not in the country legally,” Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said. “We are unaware of any evidence to support this claim. The City has taken steps to ensure this project is subject to rigorous oversight from a multi-disciplinary team of architectural, engineering, and construction experts.”

Craft issued the statement following an immigration raid at a $137 million Gulf Shores High School facility last week that resulted in 36 undocumented workers being arrested, according to FBI Mobile.

According to Fox10 News, Steven Shrank, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge for Alabama and Georgia, questioned the building’s integrity due to undocumented workers operating at the site, claiming they “do not speak our language and do not have the necessary skills and certifications that we would expect.”

Shrank referenced a January collapse of an athletic training facility being built for the high school as evidence supporting his concerns.

Rabren General Contractors is the general contractor tasked with constructing the high school and is also over the athletic training facility that collapsed.

Craft stated that Gulf Shores was cooperating with federal immigration enforcement following the raid last week and that the city was not a “target nor involved in the investigation.”

The mayor also stated that the city’s contract with Rabren requires the contractor to use a federal program to ensure employees are eligible to work in the United States.

“The City’s contract with the general contractor overseeing the Gulf Shores High School construction project stipulates that the contractor must utilize the federal E-Verify program to verify employee eligibility to work in the United States,” Craft said. “This contract language is standard on public construction projects in Alabama and is also used in all City of Gulf Shores construction contracts. The Department of Homeland Security then enforces compliance with the E-Verify program.”

Rabren General Contractors has only released the following statement since the raid:

“Rabren General Contractors (RGC) is aware of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid that occurred at the new Gulf Shores High School construction site on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. RGC is fully cooperating with all authorities investigating this matter. We have no further comment at this time.”

Craft said he does not expect the raid to affect the construction timeline of the facility.