Posted on 04/20/2006 7:31:59 PM PDT by andie74
WASHINGTON, April 20 - The apprehension on Wednesday of more than 1,100 illegal immigrants employed by a Houston-based pallet supply company, as well as the arrest of seven of its managers, represents the kickoff of a more aggressive federal immigration enforcement campaign intended to hold employers accountable for breaking the law, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said today.
Saying the hiring by companies nationwide of millions of undocumented workers is often a form of organized crime, Mr. Chertoff, a former federal prosecutor, said the government will now attempt to combat the practice with techniques similar to those used to try to shut down the mob.
The news conference came the day after immigration officials apprehended 1,187 illegal immigrants who worked in 26 states for IFCO Systems North America, a company that supplies plastic and wood pallets used to ship everything from produce to pet food.
Company supervisors knowingly hired illegal immigrants, provided them with housing and transportation to and from work, and even reimbursed one undercover agent for the cost of obtaining fraudulent identity documents, Homeland Security Department officials said.
An examination of the company's payroll of 5,800 employees found that just over half of them had Social Security numbers that were either invalid, belong to a dead person or did not match up with names on file, investigators said.
The investigation started in February 2005, when agents received a tip that IFCO workers in Guilderland, N.Y., were seen ripping up federal tax-related employment verification forms, and that an assistant manager present explained that the workers were illegal immigrants who did not intend to file tax returns.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
More likely someone missed a payment.
but but but all the liberals and Rinos say illegals are not criminals and pay their taxes...how can this be?
"Oh wow let the games begin. This is nothing more than a dog and pony show. Seems the ones that were arrested in Houston were back on the street in less than 5 hours. This is nothing more than window dressing for the masses. Looks like the administration has gotten a message and figure a couple of high profile stories like this will take the pressure off."
You are right on the money with this. It gives Chertoff and Jukie Myers TV face time but will achieve nothing. Expect more of this made-for-TV showmanship beteween now and November. In fact, the arrested illegals will now point to their arrest records as proof the were in the USA for the upcoming amnesty programs.
This is such a raging crock.......if the employers identify illegals, then what? INS doesn't do a damn thing and neither will local law enforcement. Who do we call? The Minute Men?
"Seems the ones that were arrested in Houston were back on the street in less than 5 hours."
It's not the illegals they're after - they don't have enough jails to hold them at this point etc. But they can and are charging the employers - there are far fewer of them and they aren't flight risks.
Holding the employers' feet to the fire will achieve the same results at much lower cost. This is the most economical and efficient way to go after the problem.
AND the illegals also lost their jobs.
Just hope they keep it up. Drying up the jobs will dry up the flood of invasion and even cause some/many to return to Mexico. We don't have to arrest a million employers to turn this around - just a few thousand highly publicized arrests, stiff fines, even jail time should get it done.
Next step should be rewards for whistle blowers - if it results in conviction.
Bump
The cynics are saying this is being done because it is an election year. I say so what? It is getting done now. I welcome it because every little bit helps spread the "chilling effect".
Bingo!!
apprehended 1,187 illegal immigrants .....
At that rate, even if no more illegals come to the US, it will only take a little over 200 years to round up the rest of the 12,000,000 illegals. :-)
"the kickoff of a more aggressive federal immigration enforcement campaign"
Did someone tip these guys off that an election was coming up?
AND the illegals also lost their jobs.
Absolutely correct! On Wednesday, ICE raided IFCO. On Thursday afternoon, I heard a guy call into a talk show on KFYI radio here in Phoenix and say that he works in a warehouse, and he said that on Thursday morning a whole bunch of employees didn't show up for work. They realized that these people who had been working with them for two years must have been illegals. Now that they are gone, the remaining employees will have to work harder, but they will also get pay raises. This is better than a "win-win" situation - there are too many examples of "win" here to count.
We don't have to round up each and every illegal and deport them. Just remove their ability to work here and they will deport themselves.
Add a column for 2006 and under "Worksite Arrests" put the number 1157. If this keeps up the total might reach 3500 by the end of this year. Employers of illegals will be watching other employers go to prison and will act accordingly. Go ICE!!!
I completely agree with this. Three years ago I was saying this on FR and almost no one agreed. Dry up the jobs and the illegals will deport themselves at their own expense.
If this keeps up the total might reach 3500 by the end of this year. Employers of illegals will be watching other employers go to prison and will act accordingly. Go ICE!!!
That sounds great and I hope it is actually true and continues to be true. But do those numbers reflect any arrests of employers? The chart does not specify who was arrested, employer or illegal. We also do not know if an arrest of an employer will result in a fine or other sanction. That is always a question in today's judicial climate. We all need to keep up the pressure on the pols.
Secure the border!
Crack down on employers!
Deport illegal aliens.
Bring in immigrants who have been waiting for years with papers in hand!
Rope-a-dope ploy to make us think they're doing something. Elections are coming up so they have been dragged (kicking and screaming) into throwing us a bone. Walking papers for several of the turn-coat rinos, and democRATS in November will be a nice message to send.
You mean something was actually done about this in the Clinton years?
Wonder how many were from Haiti and Cuba?
I could not agree more! A photo op at best. This is a bunch of election year B.S.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.