Posted on 08/09/2007 3:50:23 PM PDT by Main Street
JACKSON, Miss. - A Greenville construction company owner has been arrested on charges he used dozens of illegal immigrants to work on bridges and other critical infrastructure projects in at least three states.
Jose S. Gonzalez, 32, was taken into custody late last week at his Greenville office by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Gonzalez owns Greenville-based Tarrasco Steel Co. and allegedly hired undocumented workers from Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico to work on projects across the Gulf Coast region.
Gonzalez provided steel rebar, workers and installation services to major highway bridge construction projects, according to officials involved in the investigation.
In March, agents raided several work sites and found illegal workers on the Mississippi-Arkansas bridge near Greenville; the U.S. 90 bridge in Gulfport; the Huey P. Long bridge in Jefferson Parish, La.; the Interstate 40 seismic retro fit in Memphis; and the Louisiana 1 bridge in Leeville, La.
At least 77 illegal workers were arrested during the raids, including 26 Tarrasco Steel employees. The remaining were employees of other construction companies at the sites. The immigration agency said in a statement that employees allegedly did not have the proper welding certifications.
During the investigation, authorities said they learned that the majority of Tarrasco Steel employees were using unauthorized Social Security numbers for employment.
Gonzalez was indicted on July 29 and $457,368 was seized from Tarrasco accounts, according to a statement from prosecutors.
It is about freaking time this is being done!
It’s Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s fault.
Spread the word.
“At least 77 illegal workers were arrested during the raids,...”
It’s a start.....millions and millions more to go.
“Its Mexican President Felipe Calderóns fault.”
Well really it is the fault of the Mexican people who for decades have allowed thier country to remain a third world toilet where a small number of people own and control everything and corruption is the norm. They should have risen up long ago instead of just sneaking into the U.S. Which begs the question. Why are so many Mexican’s proud of thier country? Why wave a Mexican flag?
Americans did okay 81 years ago with the GW Bridge.
We stupid 'Mericans just don't understand why granting amnesty to "undocumented workers" is a good thang.
IMO
That’s sure is a pretty bridge. Where/what is it?
That would be fine. It would be nice if people did things legally.
Only one thing. If foreign labor had to go through the legal process and the employers had to pay all the benefits, taxes, etc. to do that legally they would have to pay that foreign labor as much as legal citizens get for those jobs and...there wouldn't be any point in hiring the foreign labor.
I thought the Mexican Govt is charging the Border Patrol Agent with murder in which case he couldn’t be released.
Yes, I don’t get it either. Mexico could be a great place if it weren’t so corrupt. They’ve got a great labor pool.
I don’t understand why LaRaza wants California, AZ and New Mexico back. So they can turn it into the same piece of crap that Mexico is?
Is the company owner a legal citizen?
Must be getting near election time. Maby elections should held more often.
2 in 6 years..........impressive : )
“I dont understand why LaRaza wants California, AZ and New Mexico back. So they can turn it into the same piece of crap that Mexico is?”
Yes, with THEM in power!
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