Companies hiring illegal immigrants targeted

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

WASHINGTON - The government plans to crack down ever harder on employers who harbor and hire illegal immigrants, pursuing companies that ignore the law so they can exploit cheap labor.

“We are going to move beyond the current level of activity to a higher level in each month and year to come,” Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday. He pledged to “come down as hard as possible” on violators.

Federal agents on Wednesday arrested seven current and former managers of IFCO Systems, a manufacturer of crates and pallets, on criminal charges, and more than 1,100 people were arrested on administrative immigration charges at more than 40 IFCO sites in the U.S.

“Our nation’s communities cannot be a wild frontier where illegal aliens and unscrupulous employees subvert our nation’s laws,” said Julie Myers, assistant secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Don Sherman, director of the Cincinnati Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, an advocate for immigrant workers and their rights, was skeptical about the government’s move.

“I think the timing is very suspicious because there are a number of rallies coming up around the country promoting immigration reform,” he said.

Chertoff denies ties with recent protests

Chertoff denied the timing of the stepped-up enforcement had anything to do with recent immigration demonstrations, saying the investigations began more than a year ago.

Messages left with IFCO officials were not immediately returned Thursday. In a statement Wednesday, the company pledged to cooperate with the investigation and comply with state and federal requirements.

The Germany-based company describes itself as the leading pallet services company in America.

More than half of the company’s roughly 5,800 employees during 2005 had invalid or mismatched Social Security numbers, the government alleges.

The case began after officials got a tip that IFCO workers in Guilderland, N.Y., were seen ripping up their W-2 income statement forms because they did not intend to file tax returns, Chertoff said.

Six of seven current and former IFCO managers charged with felony conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens were released on bond and are to appear May 4 in Albany, N.Y., where the criminal complaint was filed and the investigation began at a suburban IFCO facility.

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.

Up to 20 workers living together

“They were getting cheated on their overtime,” she said. “There were 10 to 20 people living in a house sleeping on air mattresses. They weren’t the greatest employment conditions.”

In other recent high-profile immigration cases:

* The operators of three Baltimore restaurants pleaded guilty to immigration charges last week.

* Nine people affiliated with two temporary employment agencies with business in New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania were charged in an alleged $5.3 million scheme involving illegal immigrants.

If Congress provides the money, officials said they plan to add about 200 more agents by the end of next year as they go after companies that violate immigration laws. There are now about 325 agents.

Federal officials also are asking Congress for greater access to workers’ Social Security data to help uncover illegal aliens who use bogus identification data.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12410887/

[Jasman0717 9]

In the old INS days they used to do this all the time. My ex worked at a hotel and the INS would roll in with their vans and haul all the hotel staff out to the parking lot and look at their papers. If they didn't have any off to TJ they went. In those days they didn't arrest any of the hotel management but now days they are starting to arrest management for hiring undocumented workers!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

In those days they didn't arrest any of the hotel management but now days they are starting to arrest management for hiring undocumented workers!

That's how the problem is tackled effectively. Turn managers, executives and business owners that hire and employ illegals into felons and soon there won't be a job market for the illegals to come to. Should be simple and effective.

My concern is that this is just a temporary show of "getting tough" to get the amnesty passed. Once that's done, it'll be back to the old days where profiteers get to do as they please...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

My concern is that this is just a temporary show of "getting tough" to get the amnesty passed. Once that's done, it'll be back to the old days where profiteers get to do as they please...

They should apply some private-sector practices to government. Like create SLAs that the government has to meet and every time it misses, income tax refund to the people

[munchkins 0]

This all sounds so depressingly familier to over here in the UK. Loads and loads of promises to come down on illegals, companies that hire them and in the end "zilch"

If all governments were completely held responsible and their salaries reflected the fact that if they did not keep to promises they would lose a part of that salary, you would sharp see some changes

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

My concern is that this is just a temporary show of "getting tough" to get the amnesty passed. Once that's done, it'll be back to the old days where profiteers get to do as they please...

They should apply some private-sector practices to government. Like create SLAs that the government has to meet and every time it misses, income tax refund to the people

I like it.

[Jasman0717 9]

My concern is that this is just a temporary show of "getting tough" to get the amnesty passed. Once that's done, it'll be back to the old days where profiteers get to do as they please...

They should apply some private-sector practices to government. Like create SLAs that the government has to meet and every time it misses, income tax refund to the people

[sowens 0]

One of the companies was just twenty minutes from my house, it has been all over the local news as they got 44 individuals. News teams and the papers alike have been crazy over it here. Glad to see they are taking some sort of action, just hope they stick with it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Glad to see they are taking some sort of action, just hope they stick with it.

Don't hold your breath.