Undocumented worker takes his fight to the state Supreme Court

The Grand Rapids Press ^ | Sunday, January 25, 2004 | Ted Roelofs

[sourcery]

"Why shouldn't I have rights like the other people?"

You should and you do. However, taxpayer-funded giveaways are not rights, they are privileges.

[TankerKC]

I am sure they knew what they were doing.

Other's aren't sure. I have a feeling that they knew, but who can say? If they knew, than any benefit that they are supposed to pay, they should pay. Illegals will continue to come here as long as companies hire them. One way to stop them is to fine the companies that hire them.

[cyborg]

You're right. I think some will pay fines because it may be cheaper in the long run though.

[Vigilanteman]

The key issues are these:

1. If Federal law prohibits checking social security numbers until after the workers are hired;

2. If his employer paid into workman's comp before he was injured;

3. If the government never notified the employer that the social security number was phony until shortly before they fired him for false documents;

4. If Michigan law sspecifically entitles illegal alients to collect benefits;

   Then, he should be entitled to collect once he and his family are deported and fined for violation of the law. Otherwise, crooked employers have yet another reason to seek out illegal aliens to avoid paying workman's comp.

[Old Professer]

Just once, I'd like to see a story on these sorry sojourners that doesn't have them walking on water and sweating blood.

[cripplecreek]

there ya go tanker. i appreciate a hard worker and american factories, but i have little use for lawbreakers no matter how hard they work nor the factories that hire them.

if illegals didnt find work here they wouldnt be here looking for it.

[kingu]

After seven surgeries and physical therapy, he was cleared to return to work. In August 1999, Eagle Alloy fired Sanchez when company officials discovered his Social Security number was phony. He was told his compensation benefits would also stop.

The feds notified the company, they fired the illegals. Do I believe that the company broke the law? Sure, but when evidence was provide, they fired the workers. But why didn't the feds come to pick up the illegals for deporting?

Our system seems to fail every inch of the way.

[cake_crumb]

Breaking the law isn't contributing to society and forging a social security number is a federal offense. If Sanchez wants all the benefits of an American citizen without being one, he should also be expected to pay all the legal penalties of an American citizen.

[cake_crumb]

"Now the Bush bots who screamed about the 'rule of law' with Clinton will come out and defend this crap."

And what Bush bots are defending Sanchez exactly?

[TankerKC]

Just once, I'd like to see a story on these sorry sojourners that doesn't have them walking on water and sweating blood.

Oh, there are a group of Freepers that make a chore of posting every crime committed by anyone with a Hispanic surnames. You could read those stories to balance it out.

[cake_crumb]

He sure is taking our tax dollars. He isn't working, he's suing, so he, his wife and all seven kids must be living on Welfare.

[cripplecreek]

who cares what thier surnames are unless its "alien".

[sweetliberty]

"I'm doing everything the citizen is supposed to do. I am contributing to society," Sanchez says in Spanish. "Why shouldn't I have rights like the other people?"

How about this, idiot: because you're NOT a citizen! You do not have the rights of a citizen. I suppose if you broke into somebody's garage and stole a car and it broke down you'd expect the guy you stole it from to pay for the repairs, too.

And by the way, bozo, we speak English in America.

[Centurion2000]

"I'm doing everything the citizen is supposed to do. I am contributing to society," Sanchez says in Spanish. "Why shouldn't I have rights like the other people?"

Because you are an illegal alien. Go Home.

[TankerKC]

Our system seems to fail every inch of the way.

Yep, from physically preventing border crossings and deporting those that are caught to fining folks that hire illegals, there are plenty of loose ends to tie up. Once (if?) that is all done we might find a need to bump up our legal immigration numbers.

[jocon307]

Here is one bush-bot who will NOT defend any of this. For all reasons, and also including that Bush's proposal seems to sanction the establishment of some kind of "serf" class, foreigners who will work for low wages. He didn't talk about workers comp, unemployment, health insurance, minimum wage, comparative wage, nothing about any of these.

I seriously question whether workers comp, ,disabiltiy, ,etc. is being paid on these workers. If it is, then I think I would rule for this man myself. I'd give him his deserved money, and then I'd send him back to Mexico. How many years has he been here, and he still can't speak English? And he can take the wife and SEVEN children with him.

[TankerKC]

who cares what thier surnames are unless its "alien".

That's the point I try to make. But many here key in on the surname and begin the rant.

Example See how folks post and commented with no idea if the guy is illegal.

[cake_crumb]

"But why didn't the feds come to pick up the illegals for deporting?"

THAT'S a darned good question.

[BenLurkin]

bttt