Posted on 04/27/2005 7:16:44 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
ORLANDO, Fla. -- More than 60 illegal aliens were handcuffed and loaded onto buses Wednesday morning. Some cooperated, while others had to be hunted down, and you've been paying for them to work.
The sting went down at the new federal courthouse building being built in downtown Orlando. Federal agents say the raid took weeks of planning, but they managed to get in and out of the construction site within two hours.
The legal workers were back on the job Wednesday afternoon, but one-third to one-half of their workforce is gone.
Wednesday morning, with federal agents overhead and Orlando police in a perimeter on the ground, more than 60 officers swarmed the construction site, searching for illegal workers.
"We asked the contractor to call all the employees down to the work trailer. From there we started the identification process, interview process," explained Mark Garrand, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Resident Agent in Charge.
Some were arrested right away, but dozens scattered through the frame of the building.
"They were nailing themselves inside a box, hiding in rafters above two-by-fours. Our agents had to get ladders to in fact bring them down from the last floor," said Garrand.
Five teams from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) searched every inch of what will eventually be a new federal courthouse. They took away 66 illegal aliens. They have not found any terrorist ties, but that's a concern with construction of a potential target.
"They have access to the full building. Objects can be placed in any location here for future use," explained Garrand.
Agents hope to identify every worker by searching wallets and pockets. Some don't speak English. Most are believed to be from Mexico, and that's where they'll end up, provided they have no prior record.
"What we look for is suspected criminal aliens, someone who's been deported already from our country and snuck back in across our borders, or committed crimes in our country while they're here illegally. That's our priority," said Garrand.
All of the illegal workers are being questioned. Agents are hoping to trace any fake documents they found.
My brother sure knows that his workers are illegal. And yes he should also go to jail.
I wouldn't want to be in your position.
Am not advocating illegal entry but to get out of Cuba legally costs the family everything. I have relatives (moms uncle's family...so it's a distant relation) who moved there in the 1950's under Batista and they only got out last summer. Allot of money had to be paid to the Cuban Govt for them to be allowed to leave, and they had to leave everything they had; their business, etc. My moms aunt must have been silenced and not allowed to talk while living there because I swear she hasn't SHUT UP since she arrived. Ugh! And she talks WAY faster than I can listen!
If he knows it, then he probably hired them so he doesnt have to pay insurance, workers comp, etc. and can fire them when he pleases with no worries.
Then the employer must hire them or be faced with the full wrath of the DOJ. Specifically:
Office of SPECIAL COUNCIL for Immigration - Related Unfair Employment Practices
****Do they verify the number always?***
Employers never "verify" - as they can't. Currently there is no way for employers to verify if an SS number is valid. Also, if a submitted I-9 form comes back indicating the SS number or other form of ID doesn't match said applicant, the employer CAN'T fire the suspect employee. As if they do and have 'guessed wrong', they will again face the wrath of the DOJ and be subject to a employment discrimination Law Suit.
There was a thread on hiring of illegals over the weekend and I found that "immigrants" have MORE employment 'rights' than U.S. citizens. The bottom line is that if 'Juan' shows any form of ID - even if apparently bogus to the dumbest person, he better be hired - or else.
Scan the DOJ website and the Dept of Labor and you'll see what I mean.
Okay, I have a question;
If this contractor hired them using these fake SS cards, was it for tax/W2 purposes? And if so, then where does the taxes taken out go since they wont be able to file a 1040? Am I thinking right?
Hiring an illegal alien is no different. But instead of "stuff", we get labor. Nevertheless, a large portion of his/her salary gets shipped back home.
No wonder our balance-of-payments is so horrendous!
Channel 9 WFTV reported they were able to get work using fake Social Security I.D.'s.
When I moved to Los Angeles in 1964, way back then, they were busting garages full of printing equipment where Soc Sec cards and drivers licenses were being printed. This is nothing new, but it is more than too long to wait for a decent Soc Sec card to be created that has tamper proof data on it.
I am just glad that I got registered to collect my benefits and didn't discover that someone had been using my name for years. Identity theft scares the hell out of me. More than my 2 ex-husbands!!!
[[If the applicant produces a legit looking SS card, what then? Do they verify the number always?]]
No, but that is the FIRST thing that should be done beofre hiring anybody. That should be law!
Employers could use this database website if they wanted to.
I'm not playing devil's advocate here,I really don't know.
When the first paycheck is issued isn't the income reported to SS,or is it reported only once a year? Wouldn't it kick out if it was a fake number.
So being here illegally is no longer a crime??
Tell me I am dreaming!!
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
Not only don't the contractors care who they hire, the new Orlando Federal Courthouse Annex sits in between the old Federal Courthouse and Orlando Police Dept. HQ. Doesn't give you much faith in the governments ability to protect us.
I am almost positive that there are illegal aliens now working on Palmetto and East Jefferson's new construction. They take lunch breaks in the grass and block access to clientele visiting local offices on East Jefferson and Palmetto. They don't have any money and don't speak English.
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