Posted on 08/26/2008 4:55:35 PM PDT by traviskicks
PHOENIX (Reuters) - U.S. immigration agents have arrested 595 people at a Mississippi factory in what was the largest workplace enforcement raid in the United States to date, an immigration official said on Tuesday.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Barbara Gonzalez said federal agents arrested the workers in a raid at the Howard Industries Inc. factory in Laurel, Miss, on Monday,
"This is the largest targeted workplace enforcement operation we have carried out in the United States to date," Gonzalez told Reuters by telephone.
The swoop at the plant, which makes electrical equipment including transformers, was part of an ongoing investigation into identity theft and fraudulent use of Social Security and for illegal immigrants.
The nationalities of the detainees was not immediately available.
Gonzalez said 475 detainees were transferred to an ICE detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, while nine unaccompanied minors -- eight males and one female -- were placed in the custody of the office of refugee resettlement.
A further 106 people were released based on "humanitarian concerns," Gonzalez said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
600 illegals in one place. Must have been a paperwork screw-up in HR.
Toss them and the employer in prison.
Good for ICE. But if the borders were secure the illegals wouldn’t have been here for them to hire.
SECURE THE BORDERS AND STOP THE INVASION!!!!
Updated story for MS Ping.
595 illegals instead of 350ish.
“...Why do they go to these obscure factories, where these greedy red neck executive’s hire low wage illegal labor?...”
Mr. Howard is Yankee who moved to Laurel in the late 60s. He started that company with a bond issue from the county and state. I once worked there.
Amnesty From Government
That's just a bunch of pro-illegals nonsense masquerading as a freedom from oppressive government rant.
Freepers are to be among the wiser, not the more gullible.
Wise up.
You seem to be suggesting there are no southerner sell out traitors that hire illegal aliens for profits, regardless of consequences. If not, why is it that the bottom half, in addition to the top half of this country is swarming with illegal aliens?
“...You seem to be suggesting there are no southerner sell out traitors that hire illegal aliens for profits, regardless of consequences. If not, why is it that the bottom half, in addition to the top half of this country is swarming with illegal aliens?...”
I resent the automatic characterization of Southerners as red necks. Not all are, though you seem think so.
We’ve got more than our fair share of illegals here in Michigan and they ain’t coming from Canada. The problem is “businessmen” who conduct business like crack dealers.
Actually I don’t. I have zip problems with southerners that don’t hire illegal aliens.
To be sure, so you understand, I only used the term red neck to describe some AH that would hire illegals. Again, I consider southerners to be good Americans, and I have no problem with any of my southern brothers that refuse to perpetuate this violent illegal invasion for profits, regardless of consequences.
Will somebody please tell me why African-Americans are not more outraged by illegal immigration? Many blacks are forced to compete for jobs against illegals who since they will work for lower wages usually get the job.
Agreed.
Yet in fairness to employers, have you looked around at the 'hirables' lately? Pants pulled so low you're staring at boxers and hats on sideways- and that's just the white guys. Perhaps this is just a method of adapting to the changed labor market brought about by the imflux of illegals but still, there isn't a lot to choose from these days.
Not an issue. If they are not concerned with competing against those happy to make 6 bucks an hour, then they are apparently stupid, and their lack of concern should be ignored.
“...To be sure, so you understand, I only used the term red neck to describe some AH that would hire illegals. Again, I consider southerners to be good Americans, and I have no problem with any of my southern brothers that refuse to perpetuate this violent illegal invasion for profits, regardless of consequences...”
I’m glad you cleared that up. Couldn’t agree more about the AHs who hire illegals. It seems Mr. Howard is actually a native Mississippian. I was 19 when I worked there and as I recall, he did not have a Southern accent. So I’m guilty of ‘assuming’ too.
I’ll tell you this; the 595 arrested are about 10% of the illegals in that one small town. Look for more raids in the poultry and wood products industries there.
Laurel was once a very prosperous town. It is the oil capitol of Mississippi and the birth place of Masonite Corporation. The economy took a nose drive in the late 70s when the domestic oil industry went bust. Been going down hill since.
The huge influx of illegals has turned quaint middle class neighborhoods into slums. Crime is out of sight with numerous rapes and murders. One local judge said that nearly 25% of her case load involved illegals.
Take care, keep fighting the good fight.
“...Will somebody please tell me why African-Americans are not more outraged by illegal immigration? Many blacks are forced to compete for jobs against illegals who since they will work for lower wages usually get the job...”
WELFARE!
I’ve found myself pondering this so-called ‘problem’ of ‘illegal’ immigration of late, and suddenly was struck by the simple, yet retrospectively obvious, solution: amnesty from government. The only way us legals can achieve this desperately needed amnesty from government is by becoming ‘illegal’ ourselves.
As President Kennedy might have said: “Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is “Soy un inmigrante ilegal.””
Just think of the benefits! No Social Security taxes, no Medicaid, Medicare, Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, Inheritance Tax, Selective Service, and I’m sure I’m forgetting a few! How much greater would our health and retirement benefits be without government throwing us in jail if we don’t roll over and let them ‘arrange’ them for us? The only taxes left to pay might be smallish sales taxes here and there and once again, to paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, it [would] be the pleasure and pride of an American to ask, what farmer, what mechanic, what laborer, ever sees a tax-gatherer of the United States?
Imagine if businesses could return to voluntarily contracting with their employees and discard the hurtful government coerced workers compensation programs? Think how much more they would be able to pay us! Businesses could also, if they so choose and their employees acquiesced, ignore burdensome ‘safety’ regulations, bureaucratic red tape, many worker related litigations, and Union regulations/labor laws. These possibilities would all doubtlessly equate to large increase in our salaries and reduce the prices of our consumer goods.
In conclusion, the benefits to us, the American worker, of becoming ‘illegal’ are more than clear. So, let us take to heart the lessons the present “illegal” immigrants have taught us, stand up for freedom, and lead our nation into the 21st century, creating an orgy of economic growth and prosperity unlike any the world has ever seen. And of course, as Americans always have, we’ll do it by sticking it to government.
But wait!, you say, that is it? You’re through? This is your solution to the immigration problem? Sure, it all sounds great, but it only deals with us. What about them? What are we going to do about the 12+ million undocumented illegals already in the United States and the many more continuously flowing in?
Well, I’m not sure I understand the question. It is the legals, us, who are the problem, we are the ones who have fallen into err; so what is there to do that ‘needs doing’ to the ‘illegals’? From whence does this urge to ‘do something’ about others arise? History has showed the greatest catastrophes have occurred not when free peoples act in their self interest, but when men try to rule other men, via ever expansive and oppressive government. Besides, since we are now all ‘illegal’, I’m not quite sure who ‘they’ are anymore.
Let me now ask you some questions: Did ‘they’, the illegals, voluntarily choose to take incredible risks to immigrate to a country they knew little or nothing about, sometimes knowing no one, often flat broke or in debt, and perhaps not even speaking the language? Were ‘they’ voluntarily hired by employers here and did ‘they’ voluntarily agree to be employed by those employers for an agreed upon amount? Do ‘they’ voluntarily rent or own shelter and do these persons who sell or rent to them do so voluntarily? When ‘they’ go to the store and buy consumer goods do ‘they’ voluntarily choose their purchases and do these stores voluntarily choose to sell to them? Since ‘they’ are doing all these things voluntarily, with the full consent of those around them, please explain what business of it is ‘yours’? As Ayn Rand might have said:
If this is evil, do whatever you please about me, according to whatever standards you hold. These are mine. I am earning my own living, as every honest man must. I refuse to accept as guilt the fact of my own existence and the fact that I must work in order to support it.
But, you protest, it is my concern because my wages are being driven down by illegal immigration, and my job is threatened.
Boo hoo! You sound almost like a Union member bashing Wal-Mart. Why is it that you require government to protect your job or your wage? If your own skill, hard work, diligence, and talent do not intrinsically define your individual value in a position of employment, then you probably didn’t deserve the job in the first place.
Regardless, I’d bet it could be shown by facts and figures that restrictions on immigration, illegal or otherwise, cost Americans jobs and lowers our salaries:
__________________________________________________________________________
With all due respect Travis. This is where I get off the libertarian train.
In theory, the Libertarian Party philosophy is nice. Get rid of the welfare state and than let anyone come to America. Come one, come all. This is bass ackwards and as unrealistic as the Utopian vision for Socialism.
When most Americans came to this country, there was no welfare state or social programs. Come here and seek your lot in life...but if you failed you starved in the street. Even my parents and others who immigrated here legally came here with skills and the mindset that it is an honor and a privelege to be in America and you are only given an opportunity, not a guarantee of success.
You know damn well that the welfare state is not going anywhere. So now we are stuck paying $15,000 per year for every illegal child to educate in publik skools, $2,500 in Medicaid OB/Gyn fees plus free diapers and formula...courtesy of my tax money.
In short, get rid of the welfare state FIRST. Than come and talk to me.
I can relate my friend. I've watched southern California go from the golden state, the crown jewel of America, Beach Boys etc to the gang boyz who will blow your brains out in their senseless murder districts for no GD good reason at all.
I have nothing but boiling contempt for those that have forced this violent disaster on America.
I don’t think Kobe Bryant has to worry about 5’ 5” Manuel from Mexico City taking his job.
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