Posted on 11/18/2005 9:12:11 AM PST by VU4G10
ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Federal immigration agents detained more than 100 workers at a construction site for a new Wal-Mart distribution center, authorities said.
The workers, who Wal-Mart said were employed by a subcontractor and not by the retailing giant, were detained Thursday on suspected immigration violations, said Department of Homeland Security spokesman Marc Raimondi. They were being taken to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers for processing, he said.
More than 50 federal immigration agents, joined by the U.S. Labor Department, Social Security Administration and state police, raided the construction site near Pottsville, about 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Wal-Mart spokesman Marty Heires said the company would cooperate fully with federal authorities.
"We have written contracts with these subcontractors requiring that they follow all applicable local, state and federal employment laws," he said in a statement.
At least 120 illegal immigrants, most of them from Mexico, were detained, Schuylkill County Sheriff Frank McAndrew said. He said he began investigating the site and contacted federal officials after getting complaints from local tradespeople.
"You've got a situation here where illegal immigrants are coming into Schuylkill County and taking (local union workers') jobs for eight bucks an hour. They are working for poverty wages, and creating unemployment because our skilled tradesmen are out of work," McAndrew said.
In 2003, a raid of 60 Wal-Mart stores in 21 states led to the arrests of 245 illegal workers. An affidavit claimed a pair of senior Wal-Mart executives knew cleaning contractors were hiring illegal immigrants. The retailer agreed to pay $11 million in March to settle the case but denied senior executives knew of the hirings.
"You've got a situation here where illegal immigrants are coming into Schuylkill County and taking (local union workers') jobs for eight bucks an hour. They are working for poverty wages, and creating unemployment because our skilled tradesmen are out of work,"
If an illegal alien can step in and take your job, you're not that skilled.
More unions whining about their failed attempts to organize and increase membership. I say Don't to Dues.
Uh, every truly "skilled trademan" I have met (and I've dealt with many) usually has their own business or is planning to do so. I agree that these illegals should be deported (as should ALL illegals NOW!), but hanging drywall is not what I would call a "skilled" profession.
Are we going to blame Walmart for the people who the construction company hires to build the building Walmart is going to buy?
How many of you checked to make sure the developer who built your community didn't use illegals?
That's what happens when unions set wages artificially high. Other workers who are willing to work for less take the jobs.
Amen. With the exception of a few hardworking union electricians I've known over the years, every thing you say is right on target.
We are talking about the low end of thew labor market.
I agree with all that you've said...but, I take issue with your assertion that hanging drywall is not a "skill". I've been doing all sorts of remodelling for almost 30 years - and I don't do drywall - but if you've ever run across a place where the drywall was not hung and finished properly, it's a nightmare. And the finisher can only correct so many of the hangers' mistakes.
I had a construction worker point something out last night that I hadn't thought of. He says that his credit rating is being destroyed because he's forced to work for less money or under the table all the time.
He wants to buy a new truck but GMAC can't see that he earns enough to pay the bill. Also he's being audited because he has more than $10,000 in the bank that he can't legally explain.
The anti-American statements on this thread are an embarassment. Illegals can come to the US with any skill, not just construction skills - for example, I know of plenty of IT workers who are not here legally - and even so, an American who works for a market wage will still be undercut by people who are willing to live in 3rd-world conditions and for whom taxes need not be paid. Without enforcing immigration law, the playing field is not even close to even for an American worker.
That the unions make it even worse is a relatively small part of the problem.
"but hanging drywall is not what I would call a "skilled" profession."
I don't know...after watching my wife try to use a hammer... ;). Seriously, though, dead on. No offense to those who do that kind of work but auto mechanics are skilled labor. People who pound nails? Not so much.
Oops. Meant to say, they may NOT be legitimate papers. Sorry. Typed too fast and did not read slow enough.
"Are we going to blame Walmart for the people who the construction company hires to build the building Walmart is going to buy?
How many of you checked to make sure the developer who built your community didn't use illegals?"
The white guy with the long time family roofing business that I hired for a new roof (new plywood deck and all) came with a crew of ten Hispanics. They were good too. And probably at least half illegal.
But I have not hired anyone else to work on my house. No yard crew. I re-did the bath - tiling, plumbing,wiring wallpaper and carpentry. Painted most all the interior. Laid the kitchen floor. Will put in the dry stone wall, and blacktop the driveway. If I ever have to hire someone I will ask if what their crew is. I may not be able to afford Americans. But Walmart sure can.
Mrs VS
OH MY GOD (hands to face) {fainting}...
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