Controversy over Illegal workers (CT)

WTNH Television ^ | 11/09/06 | Puppage

[Puppage]

(Stamford-WTNH, Nov. 8, 2006 11:15 PM) _ A Team 8 investigation uncovers criminal activity taking place every day in Connecticut right under the watchful eyes of law enforcement and government officials.

Why isn't anyone doing anything about it?

The reason nothing is being done is because it has to deal with the hot button issue of illegal immigration. The illegal activity we're talking about tonight is not so much about the immigrants as it is about those who hire them.

They gather every day at the crack of dawn at places like the Dunkin Donuts on East Main Street in Stamford and on State Street where the city has placed porto potties and signs that say "Day Laborer No Hassle Zone."

How do we know many of these workers are illegal immigrants? We asked them.

"Are you here legally?" asks Alan Cohn. "No No."

"Do you have a green card? "No that's the problem I don't have a green card."

If it's so obvious many of these day laborers are here illegally why, then, has the city set up an area for them to be picked up?

We wanted to ask Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy but he wouldn't talk to us. Instead, we were referred to the Police Department's Public Information Officer Sean Cooney.

"It's a political decision and a political debate. We enforce the laws of Stamford and Connecticut and we don't enforce immigration laws. It's a federal issue," says Cooney.

But while it's a hot button federal issue, those hiring illegal immigrants are not only breaking federal law but also Connecticut law.

"What kind of work do you do?" asks Alan Cohn. "Everything. I work on roofing. I work on landscaping, carpenter, painting, everything." "When your work at these places do they pay you in cash?" asks Alan Cohn. "Yeah every time they pay in cash."

Pedro Diaz is from Guatemala and like other day laborers, when a truck pulls into Dunkin Donuts, or pulls over on State Street, he scrambles to get to the front of the line.

It happens time after time, truck after truck.

"Excuse me I'm with Channel 8. We're doing a story about day laborers,"says Alan Cohn.

We asked several of the drivers the same simple question and we got some exasperated answers.

"Do you pay them in cash or by check?" asks Alan Cohn. "What? I pay them in cash." "You're not paying taxes on it?" asks Alan Cohn. "Ok where should I go? What do you want me to do.?"

"Does your boss know it's one thing to hire illegals but not paying payroll taxes, that's against the law," says Alan Cohn. "I know but tell him, you know." "Where do you work?" asks Alan Cohn. "Westport." "What company?"asks Alan Cohn. "I can't tell you I'd get in trouble."

Stamford police say when they receive a specific complaint about a specific company breaking labor laws they will investigate.

"It's not something that is something we are dealing with a lot," says Cooney.

The reality is, however, it's happening every day in Stamford in plain sight. Just ask those doing the hiring.

"Well I think the government has rules and laws about legal work and paying payroll taxes,"says Alan Cohn. "Yeah, okay. All right. Fine!"

If it's a federal issue, as Officer Cooney says, why didn't we hear from anyone at Immigration and Customs Enforcement? They wouldn't talk to us on camera either.

[montag813]

A few years back the Attorney General announced that under no circumstances with his office enforce any Federal immigration laws nor would his office cooperate in any way with the INS.

So? Our own pathetic Federal Attorney General doesn't enforce Federal laws either. Speedy Gonzales cares more about internet porn than defending the nation's borders.

[nofaceveils]

Then why not just raise your hands and surrender this country.Because that's whats going to happen if we don't fight this illegal immigration invasion.

I'm so sick of these people breaking and entering into the USA and not being punished for it.

Sooner or later the American people will come to their senses and remove the democrats from power and that will be one of the issues that will remove them from power.

I'm not sure the Democrats are the (only) problem here. Illegal immigration has surged since Bush took office; it's much worse than it was under Clinton. I think in some ways some Republicans are more in favor of illegal immigration since it provides large pools of cheap labor (which is good for profits) and some Democrats may be against it because the illegals take jobs from unionized American workers, as they did in the meat packing plants. It's not as simple as 'Republicans are against it/Democrats are for it,' since sometimes it's obviously the other way around.

I don't know what the new Congress intends to do about illegal immigration, but they better not be considering amnesty or they'll have riots on their hands. How do you invite 15 million MORE illegals? Give the 15 million illegals already in the United States amnesty and a damn green card. When I think of all the hoops my husband had to jump through to get his it just makes me furious. NO TO AMNESTY!

[nutmeg]

Connecticut ping!

Thanks for the heads up, 50ManD.

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.

[YankeeReb]

What would happen if all employers stopped collecting payroll taxes , no FICA no Medicare just pay us all in cash. Do you think maybe then someone in federal office would stand up and demand the law be enforced.