Feds: 274 illegals at T.J. Maxx (over 1/2 the workforce-jobs terminated)

Scranton Times-Tribune ^ | 10/7/2003 | Thomas K. Staff

[Born Conservative]

Feds: 274 illegals at T.J. Maxx

By Thomas K. Staff

10/07/2003

Federal investigators found that 274 employees at the T.J. Maxx distribution center in Pittston Township -- more than half of the work force -- were illegal aliens.

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ordered the center to terminate the workers, but a spokesman said no civil charges will be filed against T.J. Maxx at this time.

Nor will the bureau, a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, seek to prosecute any workers determined to be in this country illegally, agent Lance Payne said.

Mr. Payne said the bureau's investigation found 274 workers at the warehouse had fraudulent or counterfeit documents. As of Sept. 19, the center had 544 permanent workers.

Debra McConnell, a T.J. Maxx spokeswoman, said the company was gathering information and would have a response in the future, possibly as early as today.

Mr. Payne said the employment eligibility verification forms employees are required to fill out were in order and there "were no paperwork violations" by the company. However, the documents the employees submitted, Mr. Payne said, either were not issued by the bureau or were issued for people other than the employees.

"An employer's obligation is to look at the documents," he said. "If they appear to be genuine, then the employer can accept them."

He said he suspects most if not all of the illegal workers have already left their jobs at the center.

Pittston Township Supervisor Anthony Attardo said the findings proved township officials were right in their criticism of the company's hiring practices.

[JustPiper]

Jinx, what good does it do when they are not deported and no civi charges against them?

[mewzilla]

Well, to be fair to the person/s doing the hiring, how are they gonna know a fraudulent ID from a real one? Now if they didn't even try to check, that's another kettle of fish...

[HiJinx]

Mrs. HJ did that for 7 years here in Sierra Vista...the article is correct. She could spot a counterfeit document some of the time, but she could not spot valid ID that belonged to someone other than the bearer...well, as long as both IDs were consistent and the bearer didn't look illegal. She had a way of seeing into applicants' souls that chills me to this day!

So, when the article says that there is no penalty to the HR person when they couldn't be reasonably expected to spot an illegal, that's just the way it is.

OTOH, how do you manage to bring on more than 200 illegals and not know that something is wrong? Going back to my wife's experience...we live 15 miles from the Mexican border in the most active illegal smuggling corridor in the U.S. ... and she knew, instinctively, whether or not a person was eligible for employment.

[HiJinx]

JP, I have no idea how to answer that. The gov't hangs the threat of a $10,000 per alien fine over the heads of employers, and Mrs. HJ was mortified that she might cause her boss that kind of financial pain.

But if it isn't enforced...? What good is the promise of punishment if not enforced? I would never think of trying to raise my kids that way.

(On a personal note, love your screenname - my daughter-in-law is expecting any day now, and they've picked Piper as their daughter's name!)

[hattend]

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ordered the center to terminate the workers, but a spokesman said no civil charges will be filed against T.J. Maxx at this time.

Nor will the bureau, a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, seek to prosecute any workers determined to be in this country illegally, agent Lance Payne said.

Then for what are we paying you, Lance? If we're not going to enforce the laws, lets fire you and everybody in Homeland Security and save some money.

[FITZ]

Sometimes it might be hard ---- these people should be deported and banned from every obtaining legal residency or citizenship ---- what they're doing is FELONY document fraud. We don't need these kinds of criminals.

[FITZ]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/976760.asp?vts=100720031511


Alleged ID theft clan on the run
Authorities say family bought 23 homes with fake papers

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

This is your goverments vision of the future of America:

Citizens battling illegals for low wage jobs.

Wake up Freepers.

[SauronOfMordor]

JP, I have no idea how to answer that. The gov't hangs the threat of a $10,000 per alien fine over the heads of employers, and Mrs. HJ was mortified that she might cause her boss that kind of financial pain.

Cut the fine to $1,000 per illegal, but ENFORCE it, and things will change.

I would have it work the same way as tobacco/alcohol sales to minors: a good-looking ID is no defense

I would also make the fines go to the agency doing the bust, thus giving them a real incentive to make busts

[mewzilla]

I agree with you absolutely. But surely we could make it easier on employers. Most don't have the time, money, and resources to do backround checks on their employees.

[JustPiper]

Congrads on the upcoming blessing! ;) I got this handle(was PiedPiper) from good ol' BBS days. I love Piper on Charmed and what a cool name for her to have! My nickname is Samantha -g- I'm not a pagan but my life is surrounded by witchnames from TV ;)

[txdoda]

BTTT.....

[dead]

TJ Mex.

[Duramaximus]

"The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ordered the center to terminate the workers, but a spokesman said no civil charges will be filed against T.J. Maxx at this time."

"Nor will the bureau, a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, seek to prosecute any workers determined to be in this country illegally, agent Lance Payne said."

The Issue From A Politican's Viewpoint

• Terminate the employees
• Do not deport them, instead allow them to remain here illegally
• Tomorrow they can apply for welfare benefits, no skin of my nose
• Don't prosecute TJ Maxx, they contribute to my campaign
• Stay alert for that "special envelope" that is slipped under the door once a week
• Nod your head in support when voters complain about the destruction of their neighborhoods from the influx of illegal aliens.
• Continue to stay alert for that "special envelope" that is slipped under the door once a week

Politicians could stop this problem immediately if the so desired, but they don't. Does anyone see a problem here?

[YankeeReb]

Yet we run stings with kids with fake I.D.s buying tobacco and come down hard on the retailer if he takes a fake.

Thank you ... I've been saying the same thing myself. In NYC, Bloomberg can hire special cops to make sure that nobody lights a cigarette in a bar, yet if the cops bust an illegal, they are forbidden to turn him over to the INS. The politicians in this country are selling us all down the river on this issue , it's the only thing dems & repubs can agree on ... ignore the issue of illegals

[txdoda]

A big bump.......with the news that 300 ilegals were *busted* working (for contractors) @ Wal-Mart stores today.....

These 300 illegals will be treated as the last 274 illegals *busted*, I'm sure.

"Nor will the bureau, a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, seek to prosecute any workers determined to be in this country illegally, agent Lance Payne said."

[Born Conservative]

My thoughts exactly. Interestingly, Fox News did some live shots from a Wal Mart in East Stroudsburg, PA, which is less than a 2 hour drive from the TJ Maxx warehouse.

[txdoda]

My thoughts exactly. Interestingly, Fox News did some live shots from a Wal Mart in East Stroudsburg, PA, which is less than a 2 hour drive from the TJ Maxx warehouse. >>>>>>


Well, it ONLY took our INS 6 YEARS to *bust* these 300 illegal workers......LOL

*Someone* wanted to give Fox News an *exclusive* they could re-run all day. Got to convince the 'sheeple' our gov't IS doing their job.

[NEPA]

The local pols are really po'd at TJ Maxx for more than just the illegals.

The company got tax breaks to locate to Pittston and in exchange agreed to pay at least $8.50/hour (which local politicians think is big bucks). Dumb pols didn't get anything in writing though so TJ Maxx only pays $6.50/hour and still has the benefit of the tax breaks.