Illegal Immigrants Say They Remodeled Basement for Congressman Known as Immigration Critic

Associated Press ^ | September 19, 2002 | Jon Sarche

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

DENVER (AP) - A congressman who has been demanding tighter immigration controls is defending himself against allegations that illegal immigrants remodeled his basement. Two employees of a contracting company say they and other illegal immigrants from Latin America helped install a home entertainment center and a bedroom in the Littleton home of Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., The Denver Post reported Thursday.

Last month, after the Post wrote about a young illegal immigrant's struggle to pay for college, Tancredo reported the teen and his family to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

On Thursday, Tancredo said that when the remodeling was done last fall, he never asked about the workers' immigration status.

Even if the workers were in the country illegally, "what is my responsibility at this point in time?" Tancredo said in a telephone interview from Washington. "I go to dinner at restaurants and probably have come into contact with people who are here illegally. I do not ask, of course. It is actually illegal and you can be sued."

The contractor, Creative Drywall Designs, and subcontractor Denver Audio Design said all their employees are in the country legally.

The newspaper said it would not identify the workers because they could get in trouble with INS.

Tancredo said enemies he made in lambasting the INS and in seeking strict enforcement of immigration laws are trying to discredit him.

"The fact is that I am a controversial figure," he said. "I have rankled the feathers of people who are immigration support groups and illegal immigrants themselves, so I am not surprised that somebody might make this accusation to embarrass me."

Tancredo called the INS after reading about honor student Jesus Apodaca and his family, illegal immigrants from Mexico who live in Denver. The congressman said INS officials told him they did not have the resources to try to take the family into custody.

Tancredo has pushed for use of troops to guard the borders.

"It is the government's responsibility to enforce our immigration laws, and if the INS were doing its job, no illegal immigrant would be available to violate our labor laws," Tancredo said in the Post.

[Howlin]

Exactly. It's not a violation of the rights to ASK, is it?

Last month, after the Post wrote about a young illegal immigrant's struggle to pay for college, Tancredo reported the teen and his family to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Good for him!

Even if the workers were in the country illegally, "what is my responsibility at this point in time

If a U.S. senator does not know the answer to that question, he should STEP DOWN IMMEDIATELY. That's nothing but cover and now he is as guilty of parsing are making excuses as anyone else.

If this is "the best we've got," God help us all.

[Poohbah]

Is it unreasonable for a customer to assume that the contractor is obeying the law?

If you're anybody but Tancredo, no.

If you're Tancredo, "trust, but verify."

[LasVegasMac]

It is not the Congressman's responsibility As I (and I belive Miss Marple) am trying to stress: it might not be his 'responsibility' to check but you shouldn't go shooting your mouth off about something when you're likely to have profited from it. Its like Bill Clinton introducing a bill to ban interns from the WH as a superior could have sex with them.

Seems that that article is serving it's intended purpose - at least with you folks. The Congressman did not "shoot his mouth off" about anything.....

1) He hired a contractor. The contractor has the responsibility NOT to hire illegals. Using your logic, the Fed could nail any citizen that employeed this company. All the Fed prosecutor would have to say is, "You should have known."

2) The contractor went on record as stating that they don't hire illegals.

3) The Congressman said it is ILLEGAL to ask about the status (totally absurd, IMO). It would be a different story had the CongreesCritter hired them personally - but he did not.

I'm thinking you might need to re-read the article and take a step or two down off of the soap box.

It's just too easy, sometimes, to rush to pass judgement.

As for your comment saying this would be like Bill Clintoon...

Not even close. I'll point the obvious difference out for you - Slick knew.

Just my opinion that we got awful high and mighty, real quick, on this.

LVM

[Poohbah]

3) The Congressman said it is ILLEGAL to ask about the status (totally absurd, IMO). It would be a different story had the CongreesCritter hired them personally - but he did not.

This is BS. I have requested copies of employee documents from contractors and verified them independently. It is legal to do this.

[JustAnAmerican]

"Please somebody get their names have them deported immediately, as well as issuing fines to the construction company."

And if true sue the company that "Knowingly" hired them, into bankruptcy. If we did more of this it would stop illegal immigrants overnight. If its one thing companies understand, its money. I despise companies who hire illegals, its anti-American and just plain unabashed greed.

[kilohertz]

I think that this article is an attempt to smear Tancredo, but it brings up an interesting point.

Although I am a strong opponent of illegal immigration, living in Texas, I am always doing business with establishments (stores, restaurants, etc...) that I strongly suspect are willing to look the other way and hire illegals.
You just can't avoid it. I am always seeing employees in stores and restaurants that I suspect may be illegals -- after all, how many Spanish-speaking-only Mexicans can there be who are legitimate U.S. citizens?

The problem is that "the system" is set up to make it easy for people to hire illegals, and make it easy to avoid any punishment for hiring illegals. If the federal government and the INS aren't going to do anything about illegal immigration, and what can I as a private citizen do? Demand to see a birth certificate from the guy mopping the floor at Taco Bell?

And likewise, what could Tancredo have done? Asked the contractor if they employed illegals -- and what would they have told him? "Sure, of course we break the law. All the time"? If the illegals had false documentation, the contractor himself may not have even been completely sure, I don't think the checking requirements are that strict.

Just my 2 cents ...

[colorado tanker]

There is a fine line here that the press has missed, intentionally or not. It is illegal to ask an employee or prospective employee about their nationality, just as it is to ask questions about race, a women's marital statue, etc. On the other hand, you are right Tancredo could have asked his contractor if he had proper documentation of legal status of his employees. Wouldn't have mattered, the contractor probably would have said yes - he had a file full of copies of forged documents.

[LasVegasMac]

This is BS.

Just repeating what the CongressCritter said.

I'm guessing that the applicable laws are not the same from state to state.

Could be wrong, maybe they are the same. Just a thought.

LVM

[BulletBrasDotNet]

We could solve a lot of problems in this country if we prosecuted ILL-legal immigrants. Does not the rule of LAW mean anything anymore. Prosecute, find the guilty guilty, and execute the guilty. This used to work a few years ago. Today we have over 30,000,000 illegal people on our shores. Any thoughts from the libs?

[Poohbah]

And Tancredo is using that "fine line" as a means of making sure he's cut out from responsibility.

Smart move. Doesn't say much about his integrity, though.

[JustAnAmerican]

"The illegal showed counterfeit docs and the contractor is not an expert in counterfeit docs, so how can he be held responsible for not knowing the docs were counterfeit.

I agree and disagree, yes its very hard to tell a counterfeit document, but by the same token its not very hard to see if the SSN is real and who it belongs to. If this company did not do at least this little step, they are responsible and should be taken to task for it.

[nanny]

"I have requested copies of employee documents from contractors and verified them independently. It is legal to do this."

Just how did you do this? Just curious, because I will like to do it. I am not doubting you.

But to put this all into perspective, if you are not going to deal with illegals, stop eating (anything, anywhere!!) stop staying in motels, evidently don't fly on airplanes, just stay home, raise you own food, weave your own clothes, etc., etc., - they are entwined in everything we do. Now I do believe we could make a difference if I chose one industry and stopped buying the product, but we are not going to do that. Not because it is cheaper to have them working, but just because it would be too inconvenient for us and we would actually have to make some decisions and take some action, however small.

[gaspar]

AP is the CBS of print media.

[Poohbah]

Just how did you do this? Just curious, because I will like to do it. I am not doubting you.

Ask the employer for copies of the employment documents of all employees that will be working on your task. If they are reluctant to provide the copies, tell them that you'll find someone else. (That's usually a solid hint that they have reason to doubt the veracity of the papers.)

Next, check the SSNs with the Social Security Administration. If the number is invalid, stop right there and fire the contractor. If the number is valid, check the first three digits to see if they're from your immediate area, and ask the SSA to make sure if the account is getting FICA taxes from one region only. A non-English-speaking laborer with an SSN issued in Montana is a touch dubious.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

This is typical of a Bill and Hillary Clinton operation. Try to change the subject by smearing the one with the goods on you.

[joeyman]

Non-story. If Tancredeo had hired the workers, then they'd have something. But he didn't, he contracted with a company to perform a job. If there's a problem here, it's with the company not Tancredo.

[L.N. Smithee]

I am not a fan of the AP or the Denver Post.

MEDIA PINK-OUT CONTINUES: Denver Post Reneges On Vow To Cover Dirkhising Case

[BulletBrasDotNet]

If you are here illegally, in the United States of America, then a 9mm lead injection will make you a better person. I am sure that we can finf a way for you to fill out the form. Be sure, that since we are developing a socialized health-care system, we will provide the $.75 Pb injection. Keep in mind that you will be assessed several thousands of dollars from your family estate. The United States will,at a tremendous cost to the American taxpayer, hunt down all of your camels, sheep and goats, and extradite these animals back to the United States. The Clintons slipped this bill when Trent Lott wasn't looking. W was focussed on killing you BASTARDS!

[nanny]

"He can't act dumb; there is too much at stake. He is not in a party of one; he is part of a family, a community, a political party, a democracy, etc and, like the rest of us, has to act accordingly. Each of those groups gets its little piece of us"

Yes he is part of a political party (should he go against his principles for the party), a community (should he do what is best for the community, even if it makes his party angry?), a democracy (Didn't he swear to uphold the laws of this democracy).

"Any party that doesn't deal with liabilities is committing suicide."

Well this party (Republican) is committing suicide and is taking the nation with it. At least TAncredo is saying something - that is more than the others. It is my fervent hope that he will be heard.

I was really trying to ascertain what your remark meant and I guess your last answer told me. "Go along to get along."

Surely Mr. Tancredo realizes he will be attacked. You don't mess with the 'big boys' unless you fully expect to be attacked or worse.

[L.N. Smithee]

This is BS. I have requested copies of employee documents from contractors and verified them independently. It is legal to do this.

For the express purpose of determining if people are in the country illegally?