Up to 350 in custody after New Bedford, MA immigration raid

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Up to 350 in custody after New Bedford immigration raid

By Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff

An army of 300 federal immigration agents raided a New Bedford leather manufacturer today and arrested the company's owner and three managers on charges that they hired illegal workers to meet labor demands fueled by millions of dollars in contracts with the US military.

During the early morning blitz, agents also took into custody up to 350 employees who had been working at Michael Bianco Inc., a waterfront factory that employs about 500 people, predominantly immigrants from Guatemala and El Salvador. Some employees fled when agents stormed the building, and helicopters hovered overhead to alert authorities of escape routes, said Corinn Williams, executive director of the Community Economic Development Center in New Bedford, which has been fielding calls from worried immigrants.

US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan called the working conditions at the factory "horrible" at a press conference today in Boston. The 350 workers have been taken to Fort Devens for processing, officials said.

Michael Bianco makes handbags and leather goods, including military backpacks and survival vests. Since 2003, it has received almost $100 million in defense contracts, and its workforce has grown from 85 to 500, according to a federal indictment unsealed today.

The indictment accused the company's owner, Francesco Insolia, of having knowingly and actively hired illegal immigrants to expand his workforce. It alleged that not only did Insolia and his management staff knowingly accept false documents, but that they also instructed illegal immigrants on how to obtain fake documents. Others named in the criminal complaint include Ana Figueroa, the company's payroll manager; Dilia Costa, the plant manager; and office manager Gloria Melo.

The indictment also charged Luis Torres, a New Bedford music store worker, with providing fake documentation to illegal immigrants.

The arrests followed an 11-month investigation by federal officials, working with state and local law enforcement, in which undercover agents used recording devices, according to the indictment.

"Members of the community are just devastated. People are just in disbelief," said Williams, the immigrant advocate from in New Bedford. "They're hard-working people."

The arrests were made as Congress is preparing to grapple again with the issue of comprehensive immigration reform and as the agency has stepped up efforts to target employers who hire illegal immigrants.

"I question the timing on this," Williams said. "We're on the eve of another introduction of comprehensive immigration reform. My hope is that many people will have the opportunity to normalize their status. This is going to drive people back into the shadows and make them much more vulnerable."

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_regi..._350_in_cu.html

[Addie_Goodvibes 0]

More Good News!

Report, Round-up, Deport.

If it Scares them, Good, if they are afraid and the businesses they support Good!

If there families are seperated Good!

"They're hard-working people." <---BS they are Manipulatuive Federal Criminals & Crooks who deserve to be deported and banned for 10 years.

They work hard at intnetionally breaking Federal & Local laws. Take from the Govt. & Give NOTHING BACK.

The employers of this Illegal Scum should be Prosecuted and closed down.

Edited March 6, 2007 by Addie_Goodvibes

[peejay 327]

I wish we could say this was a trend that will continue, but I fear it is just a piss in the ocean to excuse the amnesty that is in the works by that ####### #1 Kennedy and ####### #2 Bush. Talk about an unholy alliance! They want to stab the American public in the back for entirely different agendas, but the result is the same.

This is just smoke and mirrors like the 1986 "immigration reform". Fake, temporary enforcement and bogus promises of future enforcement to justify a mass blanket amnesty. It will be business as usual as soon is the ink is dry on the amnesty legislation. Amnesty is cheap...enforcing the law cost $$$ and effort.

Let's try 20 years of "enforcement" before we buy into another bogus amnesty. Kennedy and Bush have a proven track record of lies and failures. Why believe them? I don't.

Write your Senators and Congressional Rep to tell them to vote against the Kennedy / Bush / McCain lies.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I wish we could say this was a trend that will continue, but I fear it is just a piss in the ocean to excuse the amnesty that is in the works by that ####### #1 Kennedy and ####### #2 Bush. Talk about an unholy alliance! They want to stab the American public in the back for entirely different agendas, but the result is the same.

This is just smoke and mirrors like the 1986 "immigration reform". Fake, temporary enforcement and bogus promises of future enforcement to justify a mass blanket amnesty. It will be business as usual as soon is the ink is dry on the amnesty legislation. Amnesty is cheap...enforcing the law cost $$$ and effort.

Let's try 20 years of "enforcement" before we buy into another bogus amnesty. Kennedy and Bush have a proven track record of lies and failures. Why believe them? I don't.

Write your Senators and Congressional Rep to tell them to vote against the Kennedy / Bush / McCain lies.

Sadly, I think you're right.

[mawilson 2,133]

"They're hard-working people." <---BS they are Manipulatuive Federal Criminals & Crooks who deserve to be deported and banned for 10 years.

Dude, chill out. Geez, did an illegal immigrant kill your firstborn or something?

[JohnK 0]

If you want to try and make a difference join Numbers USA.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

"They're hard-working people." <---BS they are Manipulatuive Federal Criminals & Crooks who deserve to be deported and banned for 10 years.

Dude, chill out. Geez, did an illegal immigrant kill your firstborn or something?

maybe

Illegal aliens murder

12 Americans daily

[peejay 327]

If you want to try and make a difference join Numbers USA.

http://www.numbersusa.com/index

[William33 110]

About damn time that the Government stepped up the capture and deportation of illegal aliens.

May the progress continue!

[Addie_Goodvibes 0]

"They're hard-working people." <---BS they are Manipulatuive Federal Criminals & Crooks who deserve to be deported and banned for 10 years.

Dude, chill out. Geez, did an illegal immigrant kill your firstborn or something?

Actually Illegal Terrorist Immigrants Killed My Uncle in 911.

And Criminal Illegal Immigrants steal from my family & Community everyday.

So I suggest you chill.

If you advocate Criminal illegals then you support terrorism. As long as Imigration laws are not enforced and as long as those who break those laws are allowed to remain here then our country will be vulnerable to terrorism and the other garbage Illegal Aliens bring to this nation.