Making phony ID documents for illegal workers is a big business

The Mercury News ^ | 5/4/2006 | DAVE MONTGOMERY

[petkus]

WASHINGTON - Forgers are making tens of millions, and possibly billions, of dollars selling counterfeit Social Security cards, driver's licenses, immigrant registration cards and other papers to an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

The dominant forgery-and-distribution network in the United States allegedly is controlled by the Castorena family, say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. Its members emigrated from Mexico in the late 1980s and have used their printing skills and business acumen to capture a big piece of the booming industry.

Only trained experts can distinguish its fake identity documents from real ones, and the Castorena Family Organization, or CFO, as ICE officials call it, has spread to at least 50 cities in 33 states.

At a sentencing hearing for one family member in December, U.S. District Judge Lewis T. Babcock of Denver said that the CFO's criminal reach is "simply breathtaking" and strikes "at the heart of the sovereignty of the United States of America."

[petkus]

Are the illegal aliens who purchase these fraudulent IDs complicit in this crime or are they eligible for citizenship and amnesty?

Would there be any criminal penalty for an American citizen to purchase any of these fraudulaent SS# or driver's license?

[pacpam]

And all heads turned the other direction as they set up shop. Guess those who should have stomped it down thought it was just a fad. Idiots.

[zarf]

LOL! Stop the presses!!!

[longtermmemmory]

for a few hundred bucks you can be whoever you want to be.

[Biblebelter]

I resent the fact that organized crime is taking all the heat in this story for the providing illegal documents to illegal aliens. Convicted Republican Governor George Ryan's House of Cards unraveled because of the selling of driver's licenses to illegals while he was Secretary of State. Republicans control a lot of statehouses maybe they are financing their campaigns with this industry too, and that explains why so many Republicans give illegal immigration lip service and really want the status quo to remain where illegal employers also fund their campaign coffers as well. Politicians are profiting in many ways from selling nation's sovereignity and it certainly bi-partisan profiteering.

[Doctor Stochastic]

By going to a National ID Card, this business can be made to be much more profitable.

[DumpsterDiver]

ping

[stopem]

This May be a solution!!

http://dreier.house.gov/issues/illegal.htm



, H.R. 98, the Bonner Plan, which would create a counterfeit-proof Social Security card for employer verification purposes and provide additional resources to the Department of Homeland Security to enforce compliance with laws regulating the hiring of illegal aliens. In addition, H.R. 4437 calls for the Social Security Administration to determine how best to implement such a program. The bill now awaits consideration in Senate

[stopem]

major PING!!


, H.R. 98, the Bonner Plan, which would create a counterfeit-proof Social Security card for employer verification purposes and provide additional resources to the Department of Homeland Security to enforce compliance with laws regulating the hiring of illegal aliens. In addition, H.R. 4437 calls for the Social Security Administration to determine how best to implement such a program. The bill now awaits considerat

[Thunder90]

The Dimorats fund their campagins with that cash too. Also, the Dims know that illegals will vote for them.

[Thunder90]

But the 'Rats would have no more illegals to vote for them this year...

[Boundless]

So what percent of the invaders represent cases of
identity theft in addition to the other costs?

[Bobalu]

[HiJinx]

Organized Crime Ping!

The CFO came into the US in the late 80's...after the last amnesty?

[sailor4321]

Isn't it interesting that the task forces to fight this false documentation were just formed in April --- i.e., about ONE MONTH AGO!!! Yet, the need to deal with this problem has existed for about 20 YEARS!!!

[operation clinton cleanup]

State DMV workers issuing fraudulent (real) ID's should face mandatory prison time.

[kstewskis]

I was once handed a driver's license last year (without my asking) by a fellow wanting to make an appointment with us.

I looked at it, gave it back to him, and said "you didn't pay a whole lot for that thing, did you?"

I guess it wasn't a "CFO."

[11th_VA]

Isn't it interesting that the task forces to fight this false documentation were just formed in April --- i.e., about ONE MONTH AGO!!! Yet, the need to deal with this problem has existed for about 20 YEARS!!!

That's why it's going to be hard for me to punch a ballot for the GOP this year - what freakin difference does it make ...

[antaresequity]

for a few hundred bucks you can be whoever you want to be.

As long as you are not White. Try showing up at DMV with anything that looks remotely suspicious...thats an instant bust and a State crime [DMV land is subject to State laws]...

Then of course if your brown and act or speak Spanish...not only can you get a DL...you can also register to vote at the same time.

I am in California...an open arms state if your not White... I am serious...I dare any White guy to pony up and bag some phony docs and then go to DMV and try to get a license...I dare you...

[null and void]

No thank you!