Restaurateur gets jail time--Chinese restaurant owner hired Mexican illegal immigrants

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 28 August 2007 | Jamie Satterfield

[burzum]

A federal judge on Monday rejected the “everybody else is doing it” defense argued by an attorney on behalf of a restaurateur who staffed his business with illegal immigrants.

“This is happening every day in Mexican restaurants,” attorney Charles Torres argued on behalf of Pun Wun Chan. “As an immigration practitioner, I see these types of situations every day. It’s hard for me to take it as a serious crime because it’s a constant ongoing (thing).”

U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan sided with Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Mackie, who told the judge, “I don’t think there’s any justification because others may do this.”

Varlan sentenced Chan, 51, to a year in prison for conspiring to harbor, house and employ as many as two dozen Hispanic illegal immigrants at his Number One China Buffet restaurant on Papermill Drive from December 2003 to January 2005. That restaurant has since been torn down.

[burzum]

Interesting defense.

I guess we shouldn't be surprised that somebody would use the "everybody else is doing it so why can't I" defense with our lax immigration enforcement. But it is nice to know that the law against hiring illegal immigrants exists and actually does have teeth--even if we usually don't have the will to enforce it.

[dragnet2]

Seize his business and assets.

Sent the *&%$& message.

[VOA]

bump

[television is just wrong]

come to los angeles. you cannot find a restaurant that does not have illegal alien help

[sinanju]

Keep in mind it only takes a handful of these cases to have a huge ripple effect.

This war (if tis ever prosecuted seriously) will be 90% psychological.

[jwh_Denver]

Little kid defense.

[keepitreal]

“As an immigration practitioner, I see these types of situations every day. It’s hard for me to take it as a serious crime because it’s a constant ongoing (thing).”

Wow, could one use the same argument if one only practices defense of those charge with homicide? “I see this crime every day, so it’s hard for me to take it as serious.”

[AmericanInTokyo]

Next time in the US on the East or West Coast or wherever, when you go to Korean Barbeque, if run by a Korean family, take a look in the kitchen. What you will see invariably is a staff comprised of about 80-90% Latinos, of whom nearly all will be illegal. It is a massive racket, and most of these salaries are paid under the table, so that the employee and the employers avoid various taxes, and then to add icing to the caked, the Koreans being such inscrutable business people, hire the workers for 1/2 the amount it would take to hire ethically and legally. It is a big racket, one that Korean media already reported. Already, something like 30-40% of Koreans in the USA in the first place are illegal aliens.

Illegal aliens, at the top of the business pyramid, employing other illegal aliens.

[DoughtyOne]

That year long prison sentence is going to raise a few eyebrows and cause more than a few puckers across the nation. It almost looks as if we passed that immigration fix after all. Well, not now, but decades ago, and for the first time we’re actually enforcing it.

The judge got it right. Next!

[Anita1]

“Illegal aliens, at the top of the business pyramid, employing other illegal aliens.”

LOL - Illegals hiring illegals!!

Now let’s go after some BIG companies who do the same (Tyson I believe was one!)

Does anyone remember?

[DoughtyOne]

Tyson... Tyson... now where have I heard that name before?

LOL

Yes... I remember. You’re right on this. And there were other things to remember as well. The Dope from Hope could tell ya...

[RavenATB]

“Interesting defense.”

Yes...I suggest that immigration officials take that input and us it to round up more illegals. Around this area (FL Panhandle) it would appear that the lawyer’s statement is largely true.

[T Ruth]

Keep in mind it only takes a handful of these cases to have a huge ripple effect.

Well said. Let this case be widely publicized. BTTT.

[Haddit]

Best story I have read in years. Hope they keep it up.

[perez24]

I thought that Chinese only hired illegal Chinese immigrants. So now illegals Hispanics are doing the work that illegal Chinese won’t do?

[ARE SOLE]

come to los angeles. you cannot find a restaurant that does not have illegal alien help

Especially McDonalds.

Regards

[Kimberly GG]

“come to los angeles. you cannot find a restaurant that does not have illegal alien help”

Same in Columbus Ohio...estimated 50,000 in the city.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

>>That year long prison sentence is going to raise a few eyebrows and cause more than a few puckers across the nation.<<

I’m surprised that our FR Open Borders proponents haven’t posted about how this will hurt the US economy, etc.

[mouser]

come to los angeles. you cannot find a restaurant that does not have illegal alien help

So if they all shut down the worst that will happen is those young microwave kind of gals will have to learn to cook for their familys. I see that as a good thing.

[Haddit]

I couldn’t find the story in the Los Angeles Times or the Daily News.