Caught: How agents sold an illegal dream (ICE sting)

MetroWest Daily News ^ | 09/16/2007 | Liz Mineo

[Andy'smom]

When Wirlei Goncalves Dias, an illegal immigrant from Brazil, heard an immigration agent was selling genuine green cards for $9,000 and employment authorization cards for $4,000 out of a Framingham apartment, he didn't think twice.

Dias, 31, who came to the United States in 1997, met with the agent several times, at Chili's restaurant on Rte. 9, at a Dunkin' Donuts on Cochituate Road, and at an apartment in the former Edgewater Hills complex, to buy the documents he hoped were going to make his life easier.

Green cards and employment authorization cards allow those who have them to work in the U.S. legally and re-enter the country, and are highly coveted by illegal immigrants.

Dias, who worked as a dishwasher and cook before he started a company called "Peter's Painting Co.," received an employment authorization card in December 2006 from the agent. And though he knew it was a document obtained illegally, he hoped it would help him leave behind his life as an illegal immigrant.

[Andy'smom]

I hope these operations are going on everywhere.

[pnh102]

... an immigration agent was selling genuine green cards for $9,000 and employment authorization cards for $4,000 ...

Amazing how these illegals can pull $13,000 out in cash like that.

[philman_36]

This isn’t reporting it’s a pity party.

[Vigilanteman]

According to Dias' lawyer, Peter Krupp, Dias pleaded guilty to reduce his time in jail and speed up his deportation. Challenging the operation as "entrapment" would have taken too long and was not in the best interest of his client, Krupp said.

Wow! An honest lawyer in Massachusetts!

[metesky]

Here's the deal: You're doing something illegal and the people you're dealing with want to meet at a Drunkin Donuts? They are police officers!

You're doing something illegal and they want to meet at the Holiday Inn bar out by the interstate? It's OK, you're dealing with the Mafia.

[Andy'smom]

I think Mr. Krupp might have been worried about being paid.

[OldSmaj]

"He worked very hard without getting into trouble. The government tangled him into something too tempting to pass up. The temptation was too great for him."

This is a sympathetic article, as most of the media coverage of this crap is.

Why the 'ell should I care how they caught the criminal?

Why should anyone, except the liberal, bleeding-heart, birkenstock-wearing, kumbayah-chanting nitwitted idiots care?

Deport them, deport them now.

And put the liberal, bleeding-heart birkenstock-wearing, kumbayah-chanting nitwitted idiots on the same bus with them, for all I care.

I am so sick of this crap.

The previous post about some "poor" mexican shop-owner in Georgia, crying about her loss of revenue sticks in my mind, as a picture of her in the store was posted also.

The kicker was the US flag and the mex flag displayed on the wall of her "emporium".

The US flag was displayed upside down...the mex flag hung correctly, of course.

That says it all, as far as I'm concerned.

[Shimmer128]

Oh yeah, this sting was a coward act. Not like YOU, you brave and persevering illegal intruder. what a hero!!! NOT

[beef]

I feel sorry for illegals who are really trying to make a better life here, but this has to be done. There are too many threats targeting the US out there and if we ignore them, then the party’s over for all of us, illegals included.

I want to know what is wrong in these home countries that so many of their most productive people have to sneak out in order to make a living. We need to bring that up with the Mexicans and the others when they complain about our immigration policies.

[Wil H]

An illegal imigrant is an “undocumented worker” like a drug dealer is an “undocumented pharmicist”

[Gay State Conservative]

Massachusetts is certain to lose 1 House seat after the 2010 Census and there's fear that we could lose 2 (which I,BTW,would *love* to see) so our new,oh-so-compassionate,Governor (Coupe Deval) is demanding that *every* person living in the state be counted and is telling illegals that they needn't fear the Census taker.

In other words,Massachusetts RATS are scared.

[3AngelaD]

Snort. “DEA arrests 5 undocumented pharmacists in trailer meth lab sting.” I am waiting to read that headline.

[org.whodat]

The others face no criminal charges and instead will be administratively processed for deportation.

In the past this has meant to report for a court hearing. I would bet they have been turned lose. Way to go ICE, you really should back up to the pay window for your check.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

That’s because the faster he gets deported, the faster he sneaks back into the U.S.

[org.whodat]

bet they have been turned lose

should have read the whole story, they actually turned them all lose and ask some to self deport and didn't arrest several they caught. So much of the no catch and release policy of the Jorge administration. But then that was just to try and help with the amnesty vote.

[Sender]

You’re doing something illegal and they want to meet in Mexico...it’s the Mexican government.

[fella]

Peter Krupp,

Shouldn't that be spelled K-rupp? If he's a lawyer.

[Ben Ficklin]

Year long sting nets 27.

[gubamyster]

ping