Posted on 03/09/2005 2:50:12 PM PST by Libloather
27 immigrants arrested at PTI
3-9-05
By Taft Wireback Staff Writer
News & Record
GREENSBORO -- Federal agents arrested 27 people Tuesday on immigration charges at Piedmont Triad International Airport, where they worked as airplane mechanics and repair workers at TIMCO, an aviation maintenance company.
The arrests of immigrants from eight countries were part of Operation Tarmac, a nationwide effort to keep undocumented workers out of the supposedly secure parts of airports where a terrorist strike could be carried out. Authorities said there is no reason to believe at this time that any of those arrested at PTI were involved in terrorism.
Those taken into custody were not direct TIMCO employees, but worked for labor brokers who operate as middlemen between the workers and the maintenance company, said Monty Hagler, TIMCO's spokesman and a Greensboro public relations executive.
"These are not TIMCO employees," Hagler said. "These companies provide contract labor to the aviation industry, including TIMCO."
Authorities said TIMCO was not a target of the investigation and is working with federal agents in the continuing probe.
Those arrested at TIMCO Tuesday came from Chile, Laos, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Sudan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Authorities did not release their names.
The arrests stemmed from an investigation that lasted about two months, said Jeff Jordan of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency in Charlotte. He declined to say what triggered the probe.
"We act upon information and investigation," he said.
Another investigator for the agency, Thomas O'Connell, said that protecting the airline industry's safety is a key part of the enforcement strategy.
"As the 9/11 Commission pointed out, the United States cannot risk having unknown people working in or near its critical infrastructure," said O'Connell, the agency's Greensboro resident agent.
None of those detained are facing criminal charges as yet, but are being held on administrative charges involving their immigration status, Jordan said.
Tuesday night, they were being held at various jails where federal immigration beds were available, including facilities in Winston-Salem and Charlotte, Jordan said.
They will eventually be sent to Atlanta for immigration hearings, Jordan said. They will be deported if it is proved they are in the country illegally, he said.
"I can't say there won't be criminal charges placed against individuals," he said.
In a news release, the immigration agency said its continuing investigation is focusing on "the use of counterfeit documents while working as aircraft mechanics and in other aviation-related jobs at PTI."
TIMCO has several large hangars at PTI where it repairs and refurbishes both passenger and cargo airplanes for companies such as Delta Air Lines, United and FedEx. The operation is on PTI's southeastern border, not far from Friendly Avenue.
TIMCO has about 1,700 of its own workers and about 385 contract workers, Hagler said. But he was uncertain what specific jobs those arrested Tuesday were doing.
"We're still working out the details of which contract employees were involved," he said.
It was unclear what companies provided the illegal immigrants to TIMCO. Hagler said he wasn't in a position to say, but he said TIMCO will meet with the various companies that supply it with contract workers to discuss proper screening procedures.
One company that supplies workers to TIMCO is Sharp Aviation of Nashville, Tenn. Chip Weiland, a recruiter with Sharp, said his company provides about 20 workers to the Greensboro aviation firm.
Weiland had heard of the Operation Tarmac arrests but said, "None of our guys are affected."
Sharp follows federal rules for hiring workers, including requiring proof the worker is in the United States legally, Weiland said.
Operation Tarmac got widespread publicity when it began about three years ago.
Since then, the multi-agency federal effort has touched down at least once in North Carolina before Tuesday's PTI arrests. In December 2003, authorities arrested eight illegal immigrants working at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in baggage areas and runway tasks.
At the time, agents said similar investigations were under way in Greensboro and Charlotte.
Staff writers Eric Collins and John Nagy contributed to this report.
North Carolina ?
I guess we're all pretty lucky they weren't terrorists which is certainly a plausible scenario.
North Carolina is a big haven for immigrants from Sudan. Part of it has to do with the ease of getting a drivers license, I think.
Oh......thanx
Just doing those airline mechanic jobs that Americans won't do.
just doing the jobs Americans won't do...
27 illegal aliens, a drop in the huge bucket. We are constantly told that illegal aliens are only taking jobs Americans won't do. This statement is proven to be a lie every day.
Illegal aliens have roosted in almost every blue collar occupation in almost every town in America, and they certainly are taking jobs away from Americans.
If this fact isn't shaking America up, nothing will. The sad fact is that we cannot depend on our own leaders, including our President, to tell the truth about why this invasion of millions of people from third world countries is allowed to happen, and why American taxpayers are being forced to pay for it with their jobs, their tax money, their schools, their hospitals, etc. etc. etc.
You got that right.
Those taken into custody were not direct TIMCO employees, but worked for labor brokers who operate as middlemen between the workers and the maintenance company, said Monty Hagler, TIMCO's spokesman and a Greensboro public relations executive.
That's the same kind of operation by which Wal-Mart got themselves into trouble. I need to read the post more carefully to see if the broker was fined for selling the services of illegals... Current law calls for a ten thousand dollar fine per illegal.
That gets my guard up.....
Don't you mean working for crap wages that most Americans won't work for?
My husband is an Aircraft mechanic. For his skill, he wants at least a living wage.
The employers should be jailed for hindering National security.
And you assume they weren't because...?
The Phillipines also has a large Islamic separatist movement in place. Remember the Burnhams?
These guys had to have gone to GTCC to have learned that "trade."
Secure the ports & borders and deport the illegals, Mr. President...
Ike did it, so can Bush!
No doubt. ....Although illegals hailing from Islamist/terorist-sponsoring nations isn't exactly something new, with thousands entering the U.S. per year since 9/11/01.
I didn't want one of those jobs anyway. [/sarc]
Great, now ship em out and make them pay all the expenses. Then, go arrest some more.
Between incidents such as these, protests at the border, illegal alien lawsuits, talk radio getting on board etc etc. employers will be getting the message very soon.
"living wage"
What the Heck is that?
"The employers should be jailed for hindering National security."
They should set an example with this company, as well as Tyson in Arkansaw.
The article says...
"Those taken into custody were not direct TIMCO employees, but worked for labor brokers who operate as middlemen between the workers and the maintenance company, said Monty Hagler, TIMCO's spokesman and a Greensboro public relations executive.
"These are not TIMCO employees," Hagler said. "These companies provide contract labor to the aviation industry, including TIMCO."
What have I told you guys on other threads about...
Job shops..just like the tech industry...lots and lots of job shops...for EVERY job and labor grade...from toilet cleaners to PHDs in Physics.
Job shops...like the ones that NOW bring over all the kids from Eastern Europe that work in the restaurants and hotels, doing the summer or seasonal jobs many kids used to do way back when we worked our way through college.
Maybe its just me...but I dont want to get on an airplane thats just been worked on by an illegal or even a legal who is a guest worker from a country that has alot of terrorist elements in it.
The living wage movement is an end run around the minimum wage. It is a super minimum set by liberal cities. It applies to people working for them or those working for whatever contractors they can make jump through their hoops (usually grant dependent social service non-profits) It is arrived at by taking middle class housing, health insurance, child care etc. adding them up and dividing by a 50 week year, 40 hours per week.
In most places it is so high that they fire people to make payroll so the libs can point to the ones left and say lookie here, these people made more thanks to us.
In short, their thinking runs like this. We are compassionate. We are not spending our money and we want to help the unfortunate earn enough to live like us. So we will set the minimum wage at $15.00 per hour and all workers will be happy.
10 million or so... But, I'm sure we're supposed to jump up and down and backslap them for 27..
That's been the effect of the illegals: They have lowered the wages. That's why they need to be taken out of the equation and out of the country!
I know this company very well (I've had clients who have used their services in the past, NOT on my recommendation). This does not surprise me.
Considering that airplane mechanics need to have certifications, how the hell did they wind up working ??
Blah, blah, third world cesspool, blah."
Surely you can do better than this Quaalude-induced analysis.
You obviously cannot.
Cause I been told over and over again...that illegal aliens only take jobs...that U.S. citizens wouldn't take..( Like picking strawberries, lettuce, and such. )
Have I been lied to?
So should the mention of Laos, and the Philippines........
Like "The Lost Boys of Sudan", I'm tempted to let anyone desperate enough to flee hell holes like that one and Zimbabwe, stay. In fact, register them as Republicans and get 'em voting.
I have skills too. I want a big house in the mountains....with a big truck in the driveway.
Ya got me on that one. In North Carolina, the state places your automobile odometer miles into the state computer every year just to keep track of the owner/taxpayer. If the inspector fudges on the inspection, that person and establishment are fined HEAVILY. Not one corner can be cut. You would think the state could at least take the time to concentrate on who maintains airplanes...
I maybe able to hook you up. It comes with a mortgage and wife. Sorry, no room for negotiations on either...
"These are not TIMCO employees," Hagler said. "These companies provide contract labor to the aviation industry, including TIMCO."
This is garbage, and these companies should not be permitted to weasle out of indirectly employing illegal aliens by using this same loophole that Wal-Mart used. The fine for hiring and employing illegals must be increased and enforced.
What does the truck look like?
He did do something else. After working for two years @$10 with NO retirement and NO benefits, he went to work in Europe @$65 an hour.
Tell him to write when he gets the chance.
so sorry people are such thoughtless cruel asses here. as someone who spent the majority of the first 15 years of my marriage alone .... because the hubby traveled far and wide as a welder in the oil pipeline construction business.. you have my sympathy.. and prayers. he made enough for his deam ranch... paid for free and clear. so stay tough.. and God bless.
My interpretation:
"We know that many of these foreigners are of dubious qualification, but lax Federal Regulations and a general sense of apathy allow us to hire them through middleman front companies billed as "employment agencies", somewhat insulating us if something bad goes down."
"Sure, 'Salim Bomb-Maker from Sudan' might slip through turning a wrench on a few critical engine bolts, but hey, we complied with the Feds.......and we kept wages low, more company profit"......and when the $h!t hits the fan, let Uncle chase down shadowy employment agencies based in South America, or some other non-investigatable part of the world."
Ignore the jerks. Most of the Open Border/Free Traitors on here are government workers and retirees living quite well off others' taxes.
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