Now This is What I'm Talking About!
The government did something right! Cheers! Applause! Hoorays and hoorahs!
Okay, so it happens, but it's rare enough for a little celebration.
Authorities raided offices and plants of IFCO Systems in at least nine states, the culmination of a yearlong criminal investigation, law enforcement officials said.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested seven current and former IFCO Systems managers on charges they conspired to transport, harbor and encourage illegal workers to reside in the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain, said Glenn T. Suddaby, the chief federal prosecutor in Albany, N.Y., where some arrests were made.
ICE spokeswoman Jamie Zuieback confirmed an unspecified number of raids and arrests, but declined to provide additional details because the investigation was continuing. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity because numbers were still being tallied, said the arrests were in the hundreds.
This is what we need! We need our government to *omigosh* enforce the laws we already have.
Of course, they did have to go and spoil it for me.
"ICE has no tolerance for corporate officers who harbor illegal aliens for their work force. Today's nationwide enforcement actions show how we will use all our investigative tools to bring these individuals to justice, no matter how large or small their company," said ICE chief Julie Myers.
Excuse me!?! "No tolerance," huh? Since when?
Still, this I like:
She and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff are expected on Thursday to lay out an immigration enforcement strategy that targets employers' disregard for immigration law.
It's about time! Maybe those of us who are actually US citizens aren't so voiceless after all. Yay!
Then again...
In Houston, Jose Rivera, an immigrant from El Salvador, went to one of the company's Houston operations to search for information about his 22-year-old son, an IFCO Systems employee who was arrested Wednesday. Rivera said a brother, who worked at an IFCO operation in Louisiana, also was arrested Wednesday.
"I really feel angry because this is an injustice," he said through a translator. "It's an injustice because one person, who come from another country, why can't you work?"
Because you are here ILLEGALLY!!! Thus, it's illegal for you to work here. Go back to El Salvador and work THERE, where it's legal. PLEASE!!!
Oh, well. It's a start. It's not enough. It won't appease the very pissed off American populace, but it's a start.
UPDATE: The story continues with not only a promise for more of the like, but...
The managers could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each alien involved, as well as forfeitures.
"Just a small fine or a slap on the wrist is not a deterrent," Myers said.
Most of the 1,187 illegal immigrants arrested are being processed for deportation, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Tina Sciocchetti in Albany.
All I can say is, KEEP IT COMING!!!
Technorati tags: illegal immigrants, illegal immigrantion, ICE, law enforcement, raids, government, tolerance, justice, El Salvador
by Mark @ 12:45 AM
5
comments
5 Comments:
Thanks for catching this one Stephanie. I didn't see it.
What is encouraging is that they are going after the employer. This is the only way they can ever expect to effectively combat illegal alien employment. As long as the employers can employ with impunity, the workers will find a way to get into the country.
The fine for employers in the Czech Republic is $40,000 PER EMPLOYEE! Imagine what Tyson Foods would have to pay under THAT system.
I agree that these people who think it is "unfair" are just living in a fantasy, but that is what you get when you fail to enforce the law for so long: no respect for it.
Thank you, Praguetwin. I just hope they keep it up!
$40,000 PER EMPLOYEE is quite a bit, and probably completely appropriate for America as well. IMO, we really don't need new laws (with the exception of guarding the border better), we just need to thoroughly enforce the ones we have.
I think with American companies, you need fines in the millions to get your point across. $40,000 is probably less than the company saves by avoiding health care, competitive wages, and taxes
To satisfy me, we'd have to keep arresting the upper-level management as well. The fines would not be enough of a deterent. Just look at Wal-Mart.
"The managers could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each alien involved, as well as forfeitures."
Seems a bit more satisfying, huh?
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