U.S. immigration cops nab 595 in largest-ever raid

Reuters ^ | 8/26/08

[traviskicks]

PHOENIX (Reuters) - U.S. immigration agents have arrested 595 people at a Mississippi factory in what was the largest workplace enforcement raid in the United States to date, an immigration official said on Tuesday.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Barbara Gonzalez said federal agents arrested the workers in a raid at the Howard Industries Inc. factory in Laurel, Miss, on Monday,

"This is the largest targeted workplace enforcement operation we have carried out in the United States to date," Gonzalez told Reuters by telephone.

The swoop at the plant, which makes electrical equipment including transformers, was part of an ongoing investigation into identity theft and fraudulent use of Social Security and for illegal immigrants.

The nationalities of the detainees was not immediately available.

Gonzalez said 475 detainees were transferred to an ICE detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, while nine unaccompanied minors -- eight males and one female -- were placed in the custody of the office of refugee resettlement.

A further 106 people were released based on "humanitarian concerns," Gonzalez said.

[Roccus]

Betcha a nickel these illegals were on welfare as well...and food stamps...and whatever else they could get their hands on.

[Blood of Tyrants]

So your “solution” is to allow whoever can manage to sneak over, crawl under, or swim across the border and break NUMEROUS laws, including committing several felonies by presenting false documents go free while people who want to play by th rules have to wait for years for and immigration visa?

[elpadre]

“Tax dollars at work, raiding productive American businesses, and disrupting communities and families...”

To knowingly allow illegal aliens to live and work in a community, says what about the community and the knowlegeable law enforcement departments???

[GATOR NAVY]

Tax dollars at work, raiding productive American businesses, and disrupting communities and families.

Sniff...hand me a tissue. I see 595 cases of identity theft and fraud to be prosecuted. Nice "productive" business you got there.

[TexasRedeye]

Taken to Jena? When is Sharpton going to be there for a protest against their treatment?

[politicalwit]

Website works fine now.

[NRA2BFree]

This is very good news!! That large of a number equates to a heck of a lot of American jobs. I’m sure the unemployed in the local community will be happy they are gone. Just think about all the gas that will be saved from them not driving around any more; all of the ‘free services’ that MS taxpayers won’t have to pay any longer. Fantastic job, ICE!

[JerseyHighlander]

595 illegals is about 15 minutes of cross border illegal entrants.

In the time it took the ICE PR flacks to write the press release, more illegals entered the country than were apprehended in this raid.

[Fishing-guy]

Another reason this country needs a guest worker program. What a terrible waste of resources for everyone involved.

[politicalwit]

FYI:

Barnes, Bruce
bbarns@HOWARD-IND.COM
Howard Industries, Inc
3225 Pendorf Road
Laurel, MS 39440
US
601.422.1463

[cripplecreek]

Another reason this country needs a guest worker program.

We've had guest worker programs for all of my 44 years.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Another reason this country needs a guest worker program.

There's already at least seven of them, and each one with a history of fraud and abuse, most notably the H-1bs that have been used to displace Americans from high-paying jobs for years. I can see the same thing happening with a new one that allows all the illegals to stay. Not only will wages shrink but middle class Americans will be shoved out left and right to make room for the more compliant labor.

[cripplecreek]

Guest workers will never be as cheap as illegal workers. More guest workers is nothing more than an incentive to import more cheaper illegals.

[vikingd00d]

>>Gonzalez said 475 detainees were transferred to an ICE detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, while nine unaccompanied minors -- eight males and one female -- were placed in the custody of the office of refugee resettlement.

So, not only is this company hiring illegals, they would seem to be in violation of child labor laws too.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

We see that happening now with the H-2A program. Legally farmers can bring in all the workers they need but they still prefer the illegals because they're cheaper and the taxpayer covers all the costs.

The answer to me seems so simple: just enforce the law to keep the system legitimate but even the slightest enforcement and we get nothing but whining about breaking up families etc. And no matter who wins it's not going to get any better.

[WVNan]

This being Laurel, MS, means that these illegals are displacing African American workers in one of the poorest states in America.

[spectre]

"Damn! My nephew is in charge of ICE in Jena, La.! I guess he’s pretty busy right now."

A big "thank you" to your nephew for his service to our country!!

sw

[bamahead]

Libertarian ping! To be added or removed freepmail me or post a message here.