ICE: 38 people arrested at construction site

Odessa American ^ | May 17, 2011 | David A. Johnson, Lyxan Toledanes and Sarah Mueller

[luvie]

An upscale apartment complex still under construction in northeast Odessa was the site of an immigration raid Tuesday morning that led to the arrest of 38 people.

The Tuscany at Faudree apartments, 4001 Faudree Road, was surrounded by Odessa police and Midland County sheriff's deputies, as well as at least one K-9 unit from the Andrews County sheriff's office.

[luvie]

I call this a good start!

[Rio]

It is a good start, but they need to fine their employers to discourage this sort of thing.

[luvie]

Texas *ping*

[luvie]

I believe they plan to fine AND let go any of the subcontractors who did hire these illegals. I hope this is just the beginning!

[luvie]

The raid....May 17, 2011

[Rennes Templar]

Thing is, with bureaucratic red tape for construction at ridiculous levels, you almost can't blame builders for trying to cut costs with cheap labor.

[luvie]

I feel their pain.....up to a point. That’s 38 jobs that LEGAL Americans were denied at a time of record high unemployment! There has to be some common sense used!

I would love to see more of these headlines! There has to be a stop to this crime.

[misterrob]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, La Migra esta aqui! Corra!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bandleader]

Are these people”Undocumented Workers”or”ILLEGAL ALIENS”?I sa,The LATTER!They need to be deported and whoever hired them needs to go to JAIL!!

[Arrowhead1952]

There were several new homes being built in our town last year and I noticed there was not a single Hispanic on any crew. I don’t know about the foundation, since I only observed the construction after it was poured.

[Cheetahcat]

Fine the employers? Hell Jail them!a single ad would bring a 1000 American people, ready to work to the site.

[Recon Dad]

3 homes going up where I live right now in NC all the workers are of Mexican decent.

[luvie]

Maybe there needs to be some raids held in your area, too. I think the illegals feel they are far enough away from the southern border that they are “safe” in their illegal activity! They need to be shown that’s not true!

[KC Burke]

Thing is, with bureaucratic red tape for construction at ridiculous levels, you almost can't blame builders for trying to cut costs with cheap labor.

This is just a private apartment project. The red tape on this sort of work is minimal.

Before 2006, it was not uncommon for framing, drywalling, roofing or painting crews to have many illegal aliens in their employ because there were few ways to immedately check the I-9 documentation that was provided in a fast manner from the jobsite offices as tradesmen were hired "off the bank." Beginning in 2006 that became much more achievable and well know to the contractors in general.

Companies that have continued this practice after that time have done so for two reasons. First, illegal immigrants work hard at tough and dirty jobs and they show up in the morning without a high percentage having drugs in their system. Secondly, they work for the wage the subcontractor plans to pay or for less, so the subcontractor puts extra profit in their pocket from their lump sum subcontracts.

I have been involved in this market for forty years and the I-9 requirements have been in place for over 25 years. Residential construction is often (but not always) the refuge of the employer or employee that can't show up with proper insurance, skills, drug tests, conduct or attendance. Apartment projects are simply a step up in size and with large traveling crews, very easy for contractors to move from town to town.

I have been "raided' by extremely large units in just this type of investigation. Such investigations are often brought about by disgruntled workers tying to damage a particular subcontractor or project and aren't always the case found here.

[luvie]

Very interesting observation! Sounds like they all might have “migrated” to NC! :)

[moehoward]

"...you almost can't blame builders for trying to cut costs with cheap labor."

Of course you can't, because the builders will obviously bring the project WAY under bid using that Illegal labor. /s

[dalebert]

ya ..picked up and released in a sanctuary city..hahha..

[luvie]

LOL! THAT’S another topic that needs to be addressed and SOON!

I was pleased that the voter’s ID bill had passed. It will be helpful!

[Nathaniel]

I worked at a union construction site in New Hampshire when 9-11 occurred. We had a significant number of Canadians working at the site. They all disappeared for about a week - the Border Patrol was checking IDs VERY closely at that point and many of the Canadians had forged Social Security Cards and other IDs. When Americans go to work in Canada, they are taxed - with glee, I might add - VERY, VERY heavily. When Canadians come to US soil to work, some of them do whatever they can to get out of being honest and straight up. So, as much as I detest the Southern border thing with Hispanic illegals, it happens up North as well.

[Arrowhead1952]

The most interesting thing about the construction site was the absence of trash. No tin foil from tacos, no Taco Bell food sacks, no paper cups and plastic bags all over the place. They must have cleaned up every afternoon.