Posted on 03/07/2007 10:23:15 AM PST by NormsRevenge
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - Dozens of young children were stranded at schools and with baby-sitters after their parents were rounded up by federal authorities who raided a leather goods maker suspected of hiring illegal immigrants, authorities said Wednesday.
About two-thirds of the 500 employees of Michael Bianco Inc., mostly women, were detained Tuesday by immigration officials for possible deportation as illegal aliens.
As a result, about 100 children were stuck with baby sitters, caretakers and others, said Corinn Williams, director of the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts.
"We're continuing to get stories today about infants that were left behind," she said. "It's been a widespread humanitarian crisis here in New Bedford."
The state Department of Social Services was working Wednesday to make sure the children receive proper care.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Julie Myers said women who were sole caregivers of children would be released, but it takes time to verify people's accounts.
Federal officials coordinated with the state social services agency before the raid, said Marc Raimondi, spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"I'm not saying there won't be children whose parents are detained and removed, but I am saying that every effort is going to be made to ensure no child is going to be put in jeopardy because of the removal," he said.
During the federal raid Tuesday, company owner Francesco Insolia, 50, and three top managers were arrested. Authorities allege Insolia oversaw "sweatshop" conditions so he could meet the demands of $91 million in U.S. military contracts.
U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan accused Insolia of exploiting the illegals to maximize his profits on the military contracts for production of backpacks and safety vests for soldiers. A fifth person was arrested on charges of helping illegals obtain fake identification.
Investigators described dingy conditions and said the illegal workers faced onerous fines, such as a $20 charge for talking while working and spending more than two minutes in the bathroom.
"They were given no options. It's either here, or the risk of no income at all," U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan said, comparing the plant to sweatshops from the early 1900s. "Clearly, they were exploited because of the fact they were here illegally."
Insolia's lawyer, Inga Bernstein, said: "The whole story will come out, and at that point it will be a very different scenario."
Michael Bianco Inc., founded in 1985, specialized in manufacturing high-end leather goods for retailers including Coach Inc. and Timberland Co. before landing a $9.4 million military contract in 2003 to make survival vests.
From 2004 and 2006, it won $82 million in military contracts to make products including lightweight backpacks. An Army spokesman did not return a call seeking comment about the status of the contracts.
"Authorities allege Insolia oversaw "sweatshop" conditions so he could meet the demands of $91 million in U.S. military contracts. "
blaming the military. typical.
It is sad, but the consequences of illegal immigration has split apart families. I hope the children are reunited with their parents, regardless of the immigration outcome.
Are the kids being fed, have they clothes, medicines if needed? Yes? Then it's not a humanitarian crisis. Sorry to sound harsh, but reunite them with mommy and daddy on the plane or boats home to wherever they came from. This is the chance you take when you arrive illegally.
Where is anyone blaming the military? This businessman decided to maximize his profits by hiring illegal aliens. Without knowing the actual financial situation, I'm still willing to wager this businessman used cheap illegal alien labor to under bid competing U.S. companies that did not use illegals for a military contract.
It will be interesting to see what Kennedy, Kerry and Barney Frank say about this.
It's New Besh, not bleepin' Darfur.
On the plus side, all the overtime made by the caregivers will surely be a boost to the local economy.
Owl_Eagle
If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.
Let the White House and all of Washington solve the problem -- THEY CREATED IT, and REFUSE to do anything about it.
But they're not cheap. They were making more than the new minimum wage that Kennedy wants.
If the children were stranded then send them back to their home land and family there..It would cost less..After all they need top be with people that know..
quagmire!
Barney Frank will have little to say since he is receiving donations from these 'gentlemen'.
Wonder when we will hear the cry to return the campaign donations from the MSM?
I'd bet the majority of these children were born on US soil, at taxpayer's expense, and are citizens by law.
Headline should read... "Immigration laws enforced, illegals and their lawbreaking employers hit hardest"..
When the facts don't support your position, tug on the heart strings "What About The Children of Lawbreaking Illegal Aliens?"
Others? What others? And how are they paying for this?
Children born in the USA should not be punished for the crimes of their parents. I say we give the illegal parents a choice when they are deported. They can take their children with them and the children can return to the USA when they reach age 18, or they can leave the children here in the custody of legal family members, or the children can be put up for adoption with caring family in the USA.
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