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Raid on Portland plant uncovers illegal workers (UPDATE)
KATU ^ | : Jun 13, 2007 | WILLIAM McCALL Associated Press Writer

Posted on 06/13/2007 6:08:56 PM PDT by dixiechick2000

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Federal agents on Tuesday raided the offices of a Portland food processing plant suspected of employing hundreds of illegal workers who used Social Security numbers that belonged to other people or were made up.

More than 165 workers were detained to be processed for possible deportation, officials said, and three people were indicted on immigration, illegal documents and identity theft charges.

Portland Mayor Tom Potter criticized the raids. The three arrests were understandable, he said, but "to go after local workers who are here to support their families while filling the demands of local businesses for their labor is bad policy."

According to an affidavit filed by Maximillian Trimm, a special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, only 48 of nearly 600 employees at the Fresh Del Monte Produce fruit and vegetable processing plant had valid Social Security numbers.

An official at Fresh Del Monte Produce Co. headquarters in Coral Gables, Fla., said the company could not comment until federal investigators provide it with more information.

The three indicted were Jose de Jesus Zarazua-Lopez, accused of re-entering the United States illegally after being convicted of heroin charges and deported to Mexico; Jose Dejesus Buenrostro, accused of encouraging an illegal immigrant; and Margarita Amezcua-Salvador, accused of possessing counterfeit alien registration documents, identity theft, selling a Social Security card, and encouraging an illegal immigrant.

The raid at American Staffing Resources Inc. offices at the plant at 9243 N. Rivergate Boulevard was based on an investigation by ICE and the Social Security Administration that began in January, officials said.

Separate American Staffing offices also were searched at 8926 N. Lombard St., along with a Fresh Del Monte office, officials said.

A federal judge authorized agents to search for evidence of violations such as hiring illegal aliens, identity theft and Social Security fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's office in Portland.

Federal prosecutors said that 20 of the Social Security numbers being misused belonged to people older than 60, and that 29 belonged to dead people.

CAUSA Oregon, an immigration rights group, called the raids inhumane.

"The Del Monte workers and their families are an integral part of the Oregon community and economy, and our immigration policy must reflect this reality," the group said in a statement.

Potter spokesman John Doussard said the city's Police Bureau had been given a heads-up about the raids but did not participate. Potter said in a statement that a city crisis response team would help the families of the workers.

Potter has been at odds with federal security officials before. In 2005, he and other City Council members voted to remove Portland police from a terrorism task force because the FBI refused to give him the security clearance he said he needed for full oversight of city officers.

Doussard said Potter's criticism Tuesday wasn't related to the 2005 decision.

Authorities created a 24-hour toll-free hotline for family members of unauthorized workers who were arrested in Tuesday's operations. Operators can answer questions about detention status and the removal process. The number is (866) 341-3858.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: crimaliens; delmonte; foodsupply; fraud; freshdelmonte; ice; identitytheft; idtheft; illegalimmigration; vampirebill
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To: dixiechick2000

Lars Larson was talking about this today and said that legal citizens were lining up for the job openings.

Also suggested someone should match up names to voting records.


41 posted on 06/13/2007 7:03:40 PM PDT by Cold Heart
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To: Cold Heart

More of those “jobs Americans won’t do”....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kAs11dcCPSg


42 posted on 06/13/2007 7:14:59 PM PDT by RasterMaster (Rudy, Romney & McCain = KENNEDY wing of the Republican Party - Duncan Hunter, President 2008)
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To: devolve; dixiechick2000; ntnychik; PhilDragoo

43 posted on 06/13/2007 7:19:16 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
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To: holyscroller
I have actually worked with that Del Monte Fresh plant at a previous job and have visited the plant 10 or so times. It was no secret that something was going on there. I read that there was a 6 month investigation prior to this raid. My question is why. One tour of the facility and it was obvious that there were illegals working there. The only people who could speak any English were the supervisors. Ask a shift leader a question and you received a blank stare.

This was an easy target, and the idea behind it is to show the families “ripped apart” and the few legitimate workers caught in the raid. It’s a rope and dope by Bush and the libs in the most liberal city on the west coast (tied with San Fran). It was a raid to garner sympathy from the public.

44 posted on 06/13/2007 7:27:06 PM PDT by Carling (It's Danny, Sir)
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Portland Mayor Tom Potter = MORON
45 posted on 06/13/2007 7:31:06 PM PDT by Outland (Liberalism is a mental disorder. Socialism is a deep psychosis. Communism is brain cancer.)
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To: Carling
"It was a raid to garner sympathy from the public."

Either that or another token effort to appease those of us who dislike illegal immigration.

46 posted on 06/13/2007 7:34:00 PM PDT by Outland (Liberalism is a mental disorder. Socialism is a deep psychosis. Communism is brain cancer.)
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To: dixiechick2000
Ironic, isn’t it...

Sadly ironic. Mayor Potter and his lesbian daughter -- whose sexual preference helped his election...

47 posted on 06/13/2007 7:37:49 PM PDT by vox_freedom (John 16:2 yea, the hour come, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth a service to God)
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To: Cold Heart; RasterMaster

I didn’t get to hear Lars today, but I heard an interview with one who was applying for a job on the radio.

He said the illegals are taking the jobs that Americans want!

I know they had some temp workers there, too, but not nearly enough to get the job done.


48 posted on 06/13/2007 7:50:54 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
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To: potlatch

Thanks, potlatch!

I’ve always liked that one.


49 posted on 06/13/2007 7:51:55 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
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To: dixiechick2000; devolve

Lol, you are welcome DC!


50 posted on 06/13/2007 7:53:59 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
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To: vox_freedom
"whose sexual preference helped his election..."


...and that he marches in the Gay Pride Parade.

I wasn't going to mention it but, since you did, I'll go with it. ;o)

51 posted on 06/13/2007 7:54:14 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
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To: dixiechick2000
only 48 of nearly 600 employees at the Fresh Del Monte Produce fruit and vegetable processing plant had valid Social Security numbers.

Some plant owners/managers better go to jail for this. 48 out of 600 without valid numbers is feasible in that kind of business but 552 out of 600 means the management was well aware of it and supporting it. And somebody please tell the Portland mayor to shut his piehole. Stealing SS numbers is a crime.

52 posted on 06/13/2007 8:08:23 PM PDT by Reagan is King (u)
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To: dixiechick2000
I wasn't going to mention it but, since you did, I'll go with it. ;o)

Ironic is right.

53 posted on 06/13/2007 8:20:58 PM PDT by vox_freedom (John 16:2 yea, the hour come, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth a service to God)
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To: Squantos; Calpernia; dixiechick2000
Squantos! LTNS!

Cal, big love as always.

DC, somebody send you a laundry girl yet? :)

54 posted on 06/13/2007 8:50:33 PM PDT by txhurl
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To: potlatch

Bridge Over Trouble Water bumperooooooo...


55 posted on 06/13/2007 9:01:56 PM PDT by devolve ( _Illegal_Aliens_Killed_25_Americans_Today _A_Mexican_Illegal_Alien_Sold_911_Terrorists_IDs_)
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To: devolve

Funny how hard I worked on cutting out that truck, animating the waving hands, etc and you can’t even tell it.

Who would know it is the one in the picture that is posted all the time??!


56 posted on 06/13/2007 9:04:23 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
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To: dixiechick2000

Just say NO to Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!

U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121

U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121

White House comments: (202) 456-1111

Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep

Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


57 posted on 06/13/2007 9:17:19 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Fred Thompson/John Bolton 2008)
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To: dixiechick2000

TANKS,,,sounds like the “fix” is in...


58 posted on 06/13/2007 10:00:14 PM PDT by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68 (THROWING ANOTHER BULLET-RIDDLED TV IN THE PILE OUT BACK~~~~~)
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To: txflake; Squantos; dixiechick2000

bump


59 posted on 06/14/2007 4:38:36 AM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: dixiechick2000

The FBI should have gone ahead to investigate Potter for the clearance and then refuse to give it to him on the grounds he is a communist, terrorist and whacko sympathizer.

But, the FBI already knew that.


60 posted on 06/14/2007 9:34:38 AM PDT by Cold Heart
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