Immigration Agents Nab {7} Execs, {Hundreds of} Employees in Illegal Worker Raids

Fox News ^

[HHKrepublican_2]

WASHINGTON — Immigration agents arrested seven executives and hundreds of employees of a manufacturer of crates and pallets Wednesday as part of a crackdown on employers of illegal workers.

Authorities raided offices and plants of IFCO Systems in at least nine states, the culmination of a yearlong criminal investigation, law enforcement officials said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested seven current and former IFCO Systems managers on charges they conspired to transport, harbor and encourage illegal workers to reside in the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain, said Glenn T. Suddaby, the chief federal prosecutor in Albany, N.Y., where some arrests were made.

[driftdiver]

This is amazing. How long did it take the INS to realize that this company was breaking the law?

Why are we paying for the INS if they don't do a dang thing? We have gatherings of 1/2 a million illegals and still the INS ignores the problem.

[HHKrepublican_2]

Let's be honest, many of those marchers werent illegal, and you can just walk into a protest and start arresting people because they 'look' illegal.

[zerosix]

The sad thing is that the government employees we have hired, and paid good salaries to, I might add, are told to do nothing by the same Congress that wrote the laws to begin with.

The only real solution is to fire the politicians and get some new ones who will follow the laws that they force down the throats of the rest of us "peons."

[Thombo2]

It's about time.According to an article on Drudge,this company had been warned before.Hope this(enforcement)is a trend and not simply for show.

[RKV]

Millions more to go before we are done, but you have to start somewhere. The problem will be when the fat-cat GOP donors start to have their profits squeezed. Nevermind how they are freeloading the medical and educational expenses of their employees (and their dependents) on us. If this really starts to bite, expect the Wall Street Journal to feature an editorial on guest workers every day.

[glorgau]

This is amazing. How long did it take the INS to realize that this company was breaking the law?

This one is just for political posturing. We'll know that the INS is serious about enforcing the law if we see one or two of these a week for the next 6 months. the problem is that bad.

[Tokra]

Why are we paying for the INS if they don't do a dang thing?

Just be glad they finally ARE doing something. They've got to start somewhere - at least they've finally started.

[Owen]

It's actually not an easy investigation. There is no law in the US that says you must speak English. There is no law in the US that says you must speak, period. If the company had hired these people and NOT had them on staff for 40 hrs a week, then there is no requirement to pay benefits. If they keep the hour total low enough they may not even need to pay an employer's half of Social Security.

Given all that, tracing the situation down and having concrete proof of crime in sufficient quantity even to get a warrant, let alone a conviction, is very hard.

You would have to stop each one and ask to see a green card. "Oh, I left it at home." Do you accompany them home and have them say, it's been stolen, I have to apply for another? The time consumed per person is going to be considerable.

But the wheels are turning. Publicity is more effective than the event. This is good.

[Pride in the USA]

This is a great example of too little, too late. There is no way that this agency will ever round up the nearly 12 million illegals who live and work in this country. We should have been doing a lot more of this long before now.

[mosaicwolf]

This is the solution to the problem Enforce immigration by busting companies and executives that hire them. No jobs - No illegals.

[Jarhead1957]

the culmination of a yearlong criminal investigation Hell, I could have saved them a year. All they need to do is come sit in my front yard.

Sorry George, a few raids is not what we need. A good strong Illegal Immigration policy would go much further.

[houeto]

Hope this(enforcement)is a trend and not simply for show.

ALL of the illegals arrested in Houston were released within 5 hours. Probably the same in the other cities as well.

[ladyjane]

If we're lucky it's only 12 million. Many think there are considerably more illegals here, maybe 20 million.

[Atomic Vomit]

A good start. Faster, please.

AV

[truthkeeper]

I agree. If the government cops to 12 million, rest assured the real number is at least double that.

[starfish923]

Wouldn't you agree that it's equally important as to what is going to be done with those seven executives and hundreds of illegal immigrants?

[MineralMan]

Look! See!

[driftdiver]

"Let's be honest, many of those marchers werent illegal, and you can just walk into a protest and start arresting people because they 'look' illegal."

No doubt many weren't illegal but some at least were advocating the violent overthrow of the US. Certainly some were illegal. Seems that would be enough probable cause to ask for an ID.

Those protests were also organized and funded by the Ford Foundation and the communist party of america (can't remember their name right now).

My point was its a lack of will, not of resources that keeps these illegals running freely throughout America. Having illegals roaming freely is a security threat and very few countries allow this. Why do we? Who are those putting our security at risk and why are they not in jail?

And of course not all illegals are a threat. Some are family people trying to make a living. Fine, come in legally. On the other hand I've heard that 150,000 a year are violent criminals.