It was just a small failure to communicate.
Posted on 08/22/2007 2:22:50 PM PDT by WKB
PASCAGOULA -- A group of Mexican nationals have appealed to U.S. Attorney Alberto Gonzales to investigate their claims that Pascagoula Police Capt. George Tillman and a labor recruiter violated their civil rights when they allegedly kidnapped, enslaved and threatened the workers with deportation earlier this month.
The more than 30 workers entered the country on a H2B work visas and filed a notice today of their intent to sue Tillman and the Pascagoula Police Department on state and federal charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, kidnapping with intent to enslave, human trafficking and violations of the workers' civil and constitutional rights.
The group is working with officials at the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, the ACLU, the New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice and the Alliance of Guest Workers for Dignity to assist them in the their quest for justice.
On Wednesday, after showing up on the steps of the federal courthouse in New Orleans, the group outlined their allegations. Here's their account:
On the night of Aug. 2, Tillman was in uniform, armed and in his police patrol car accompanied by an unidentified recruiter with Black Hawk when they showed up at the workers' homes.
Tillman, they said, told them that Black Hawk owned them and that they had to go with them or they'd face possible prison time or deportation.
"We resisted," the workers said in a written statement. "But we were forced to pack our bags and get into vans. We were transported to a new location. Tillman and the others packed all 30 of us into three rooms... "
Police kept watch, according to the workers, and the following day the recruiter returned, this time taking mug shots and video footage of them. With outside help, the workers escaped to an undisclosed location in New Orleans, where they've been living without work or money.
They allege Tilllman and the Pascagoula Police Department violated their civil rights along with the other charges.
Pascagoula Police Interim Chief Eddie Stewart fired back Wednesday, saying that none of his officers or any other city employee for that matter had kidnapped, enslaved or violated the civil rights of any of these workers.
Instead, he said, the police officers were simply responding to a call for help when two private contractors got into an argument about who actually employed the workers. Stewart said they simply served as a mediators and went to the scene along with agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement and a recruiter.
Read more about this story in Thursday's editions of the Sun Herald.
Mississippi ping
Apparently, these illegals do not understand what the English words ‘enslave’ and ‘kidnap’ mean.
Guaranteed their lawyers do.
T.S.
Is it just me, or does this tale of enslavement sound a little bit too much like a LAW & ORDER episode?
MM (in TX)
If it is I just hope Fred Thompson can’t
be in that episode. :>)
Aw ... illegals are now “victims” of their ILLEGAL presense.
DEPORT EM!
What L&O episode was it?
These were legal immigrants.
Then there is that little scar.......
Better check to see if you still have two kidneys
It was just a small failure to communicate.
‘enslave’ means ‘el follow the rules’ in spanish.
LOL, I don’t remember a particular episode; I just mean it sounds a bit too much like a TV show. I don’t doubt that there are people who take severe advantage of people, but this one just doesn’t pass the smell test.
MM (in TX)
Time’s up on the VISA’s, eh Amigos?
Were the Mexican Nationals here legally or were they in the commission of a crime when they were arrested?
Except that there's not a word about anything that could possibly constitute enslavement anywhere in the alleged victims' account. They were given a choice, go with the employer that your visas are based on or be deported. Apparently they turned down deportation. From their account, it appears they promptly departed to an "undisclosed location" where they have been unemployed, before anyone had a chance to even ask them to perform any work. Since they are not working for the employer specified on their visas, they are now living here illegally, even though they had the option to live and work here legally. They're illegals now, and should be sent home.
However, if they were uncooperative with the authorities attempts to sort through the confusion I would think they would be running the risk of having their H2B status revoked.
Actually, not to put to fine a point on it…..
These were legal non-immigrants
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