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Group: Guestworkers System Being Abused
AP via SFGate ^ | 3/12/7 | SUZANNE GAMBOA

Posted on 03/12/2007 12:37:41 PM PDT by SmithL

WASHINGTON, (AP) -- A civil rights organization wants Congress to closely examine what it says are abuses in existing guestworker programs before creating a new one to curb illegal immigration.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Montgomery, Ala., said foreigners hired through programs for farm and non-farm laborers work in conditions akin to indentured servitude.

Workers are routinely cheated of wages, forced to turn over deeds to homes and pay thousands in fees to recruiters, leaving them beholden to unscrupulous employers to pay off debt, the center said in a report Monday.

"The title of the report 'Close to Slavery' is an accurate depiction of guestworker programs in the United States. It is not mere hyperbole," Richard Cohen, the center's chief executive officer, said at a National Press Club news conference.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: amnesty; guestworker; immigrants

1 posted on 03/12/2007 12:37:43 PM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL

Maybe The Southern Poverty Law Center needs to go a lot farther south to try to stop the real abuse of workers. On the other hand they wouldn't last a whole day down there.


2 posted on 03/12/2007 12:41:31 PM PDT by FreePaul
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To: SmithL
All of this would stop if Bush would issue an executive order like Roosevelt and stop all immigration for 5 years. The country needs a break.
3 posted on 03/12/2007 12:41:31 PM PDT by edcoil (Reality doesn't say much - doesn't need too)
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To: SmithL

The minute you read "Southern Poverty Law", stop reading immediately and go wash your face and hands.


4 posted on 03/12/2007 12:43:51 PM PDT by twonie (RUDY FOR PRESIDENT '08. THERE - A COMMITMENT OUT LOUD.)
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To: edcoil

President Bush doesn't even want to give the illusion of an impression that he would clamp down on the border so halting all immigration seems way out there.


5 posted on 03/12/2007 12:44:41 PM PDT by Duke Nukum (Chickens are part of the natural cycle of life, and that is why we play chickenball in the house.)
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To: SmithL

After that let's look at our insane lottery style immigration policy.


6 posted on 03/12/2007 12:45:04 PM PDT by villagerjoel (Give me liberty, or give me death!)
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To: SmithL

The Southern Poverty Law Center is full of lying Communists. They are about the last people in the world to understand what is wrong with this infamous program.


7 posted on 03/12/2007 12:58:47 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: twonie
The minute you read "Southern Poverty Law", stop reading immediately and go wash your face and hands.

I normaly would agree, but in this case, the SPLC is 100% correct.

8 posted on 03/12/2007 1:18:54 PM PDT by Marine Inspector (Shhh, I’m hunting RINOs.)
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