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.
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.
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.
Either that or another token effort to appease those of us who dislike illegal immigration.
Sadly ironic. Mayor Potter and his lesbian daughter -- whose sexual preference helped his election...
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.
Thanks, potlatch!
I’ve always liked that one.
Lol, you are welcome DC!
...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)
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.
Ironic is right.
Cal, big love as always.
DC, somebody send you a laundry girl yet? :)
Bridge Over Trouble Water bumperooooooo...
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??!
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
TANKS,,,sounds like the “fix” is in...
bump
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.
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