Posted on 06/06/2006 11:49:33 AM PDT by SJackson
Nine Hispanic men, all charged with working in this country illegally, are a little bit closer to going home. That's because they accepted a plea agreement Monday in federal court. While a couple may be headed for deportation, Local 12's Rich Jaffe says others are held as witnesses in a growing case against a prominent local home builder.
Raul Hernandez Colin admits to being an illegal immigrant. He and around 80 others were picked up a few weeks ago during a raid on Fischer Homes construction sites. Four Fischer supervisors were also arrested and charged with the reckless disregard of immigration laws. The Fischer President quickly came forward explaining the company policy towards illegal workers.
Robert Hawksley, Fischer Homes: "Fischer Homes utilizes a rigorous screening process for all of its employees, including citizenship verification. Fischer Homes does not in any way condone the hiring or use of illegal immigrants."
While Fischer says none of the arrested illegals work for them, in federal court, documents obtained by Local 12, Raul Hernandez Colin clearly says his employer was Fischer.
"Just a casual search of the immigration cases being heard in federal court, reveals quite a few of those arrested say they too work for Fischer."
Francisco Trejo says he works for Fischer. So does Henry Leon. Hector Hernandez does too... so does Freddy Flores. Rogelio Utado also says he was employed by Fischer... as does Cesar Mireles... and federal authorities say there are more.
A number of the men who have told authorities they worked for Fischer will be labeled as material witnesses and depositions from them will be used against the four Fischer supervisors, as well as sub contractors like Robert Pratt, who've also been arrested.
When we contacted Fischer about the issues, a spokesman told us... " the arrested workers might be confused as to the identities of their actual employers due to a language barrier... and that they were not paid salaries nor did they receive retirement or other employment benefits or compensation directly from Fischer."
Rich Jaffe, Local 12.
Of the nine men in court Monday, only two are being handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents for deportation. The other seven are being held as material witnesses in the ongoing case.
I'm sure it's all a misunderstanding.
They may well be employed by subcontractors and not Fischer Homes. The head of Fischer Homes is involved in the building of Fischer Houses all over the country to provide a place to stay for family members of wounded military members.
Fisher House (note the spelling) is a charity.
Fischer Homes is a homebuilding company in Cincinnati, Ohio
Builders hire a subcontractor to do the framing, another to rough in the electrical and plumbing, and yet another to do the roofing and finish work.
It wouldn't surprise me that these illegal aliens didn't work directly for Fischer, but for the subcontracters that Fischer hired.
ping
That's possible, I'm sure it will be the defense, but the investigation seems to be focused on Fisher.
Not difficult to answer. Both.
susie
Technically, Fischer Homes will be correct.
Home builders hire sub-contractors (roofers, bricklayers, drywall workers, framers, etc...)
The sub hires the workers and pays them. Fischer will go into court and show that they have no payroll records for the illegal aliens. They will say they are "shocked!" that one of their subs hired illegals. They will probably say that they urge the subs not to hire illegals either.
And you know what? They will prolly get away with it. However, if the court can show that Fischer Homes superintendents were well aware that the sub-contractors hire illegal aliens (And they would have be deaf, dumb, blind, liars and retarded not to know it.) then they could slap a large fine on Fisher Homes. Hell, everybody else on the jobsite knows it!
Come on judge. Nail the bastards and the message will spread to builders across the country in about 24 hours. Then new home construction would screech to a halt.
A common way for employers to hire illegals is to hire a labor contractor who in turn hires the illegals. The labor contractor is paid a lump sum to provide employees and the labor contractor pays the illegals cash. If the labor contractor is caught- then the business is usually protected since they did not hire the illegal directly. These scam labor contractors usually have no assests in their name. When a labor contractor is caught the business simply hires another one.
There are legitimate labor contractors who provide legal workers, either citizens or legal foreign workers. Many companies use the scam labor contractors as a way to hire illegals and keep their business clean.
I gotta type faster! :o) Otherwise I just duplicate what twelve other people said!
Thanks. I thought it was the same group. Apparently not.
Rather than spamming the forum with pictures of dudes kissing, why don't you present your solution? I'm assuming you favor the Senate approach. I'm curious as to what you think of the Pence compromise as an alternative.
Fruits, or the fruit picker????? You were waitin' for this one one?
Usual CYA rubbish from a 'developer' who may get off the hook due to dodgy arm's-length subcontractor deals. Still, it's a non-denial denial and I would love to see them hauled up along with the illegals for avoidance of payroll, SS taxes etc.
Walmart didn't get off scott-free with the cleaning crews/subcontractor dustup.
If so they need to be looking at the subs. The question doesn't seem to be whether there are crimes committed, rather who committed them.
Fischer obviously neglected to make the proper "protection" payments. I'm still waiting for Tyson foods to be raided.
just picking the 'fruits' Americans are unwilling to pick...
In my view homosexuals in the UK are no threat at all.
Knowing your affection for abusive labor practices, I’ll assume that’s an illegal, he’s a victim of immoral economic systems both sides of the border. He and possibly his employer, are criminals.
If he’s a legal migrant laborer, he’s an example of how the system could work.
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