Posted on 11/05/2005 7:51:17 AM PST by freepatriot32
A Riverside man has been incurring the ire of businesses he has named on a Web site that purports to out alleged employers of undocumented workers.
Jason Mrochek, a 30-year-old software developer, said he hasn't been sued over his Web site, www.WeHireAliens.com The site lists 200-plus companies, some of which are in San Diego County.
On the site, he invites people from around the country to post complaints about specific companies, from large corporations to mom-and-pop businesses. Also posted are addresses, phone numbers, corporate logos and even photographs in some cases.
"We have been dealing with people calling up and saying, 'Why don't you hire al-Qaeda?' All kinds of off-the-wall stuff," said Chris Griffin, president of Unique Landscapes in Mesa, Ariz., whose business card is posted on the site.
Griffin, who believes his business was targeted by the wife of an angry ex-employee, said the company is in compliance with immigration laws. He has consulted an attorney about possible slander and defamation, but said he doesn't plan to sue.
Mrochek, who said he posts only those complaints he deems fairly credible, said the site contains a legal disclaimer. "We cannot independently verify every piece of information provided us, and are not responsible for doing so," it reads, adding that companies listed are only listed as "alleged" violators.
"I am not acting as judge and jury," Mrochek said. "I am providing a forum for people who are not getting their grievances addressed by the federal government."
Immigration experts regularly point to loopholes in federal law that allow employers to hire undocumented workers with little fear of government sanctions, creating a magnet for illegal immigration.
The disclaimer on Mrochek's Web site hasn't been enough to keep at least one listed company from contacting him via legal counsel. Mrochek said he has heard from a Los Angeles law firm representing one of the businesses.
He said he didn't want to identify the business because "I am trying to work with them."
Some businesses had no idea they were listed on the site until contacted by a reporter.
"I had no clue about it until now," said Scott Herman, general manager of the Scripps Ranch Swim and Racquet Club, a recreational club whose logo is posted on the site.
The complaint posted for the club reads that "what appeared to be illegals" had been seen working on property owned by the club.
Herman, who said all of the club's employees are authorized to work in the United States, said he would take the Web site matter up with the nonprofit club's board of directors.
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Leslie Berestein: (619) 542-4579; leslie.berestein@uniontrib.com
Gee, could it be because you have no case? And would that be because you DO hire illegals?
Just like a crack head whining that his dealer ripped him off.
Excellent, we need more citizens to take a stand who are fed up!
I will have to get the names of the companies and add them to the list. What is really disheartening is to see names like HOME DEPOT that are on the list.
President Bush is obviously not up to the task of ridding the country of illegals. If illegals can't work, they can't eat. This is a GREAT IDEA.
ping
It's not a well-kept secret that you go to HD to get your illegal, cheap-labor.
And your implication is that casual, day labor is a factor compared to:
1. the drain on social services (hospital, welfare, etc) & schools by the illegals' dependents.
2. the displacement of citizen workers by full-time illegal non-citizen workers
My implication is that you can track down at least of the illegals in this country by going down to HD on any given morning.
Points 1 and 2 that you posted are givens.
additionally, any casual anglo labor sources that you're aware of ?
Someone should start a list of the "Upper Crust" Washington types that have illegal household help or Landscape Services with illegals. I'll bet some female hopeful for the 2008 presidential race has 'em.
Los Angeles county has more horses than ANY other county in the USA.
Those back yard operations have the feeding, cleaning, and landscape work done by whomever they can hire cheap. Some live on the premises, most do not. It is a dirty little secret of the wealthy who can afford the larger properties and have their horses at home. They don't think twice about hiring anyone they can, and not only are they NOT checking the legal status of the worker, most of them get paid in cash, and the income for the worker never gets reported. Lots of affluent ladies with horses who wouldn't ever consider feeding or cleaning up after the horse deposits themselves!!!!!!!
I forgot- Sometimes it is a "family" operation. While Jose cleans up after the horses, Rosa cleans the missus' house, a day or 2 a week.
Well .. the statement "WHAT APPEARED TO BE ILLEGALS" is not in anyway proof of anything .. and if this guy wants to accuse people of hiring them then he should have taken the time to find out the truth first.
I'm not against exposing this .. I'm against the lynchmob mentality of saying that people who "appear to be" Hispanic - then they must somehow be illegal. There are a lot of LEGAL Hispanics in America and to look at some employee from a distance and be able to judge whether he's legal or illegal - is just plain ignorance.
and another thing: Home Depot will NOT allow Salvation Army bellringers at Christmas time. But they do allow illegals to hang around out front.
I do all my business at Lowes which does allow the SA, and I hope you will too.
Nardelli (HD CEO) has had corporate level folks canned for repeatedly pointing out - in the face of "hints" not to do so - that this is a form of blackmail.
The bean counters at HD, of course, see it quite differently.
there are some things HD does better, however - like plumbing valves, etc.
I shop on price/availability & contribute to S.A. via check.
Personally, I feel HD's & Target's exclusion of S.A. from their stores @ Xmas is due to some a$$hole in their respective legal departments.
Many large cities have hiring halls where you can hire workers for general labor and for most journeyman type fields. Also, you can hire workers through temporary employment agencies and through any state employment department.
Agreed...after all, I am a Legal Hispanic...a citizen of the USA by birth, if we're going to split hairs. My point is, if company A finds itself in this list, and it says it considered legal action and was told by the lawyers it had no recourse, it must be for a reason. Honestly, I don't care, but I believe companies in areas where illegals are plentiful need to be the frontline of the war against illegal immigration.
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