IT's ABOUT Time...

[Bubba]

Bosses, workers seized in immigration raids
From Terry Frieden and Mike M. Ahlers
CNN

Thursday, April 20, 2006; Posted: 8:32 a.m. EDT (12:32 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal immigration authorities rounded up more than 1,000 illegal immigrants at dozens of sites and charged nine individuals of the firm that employed them, federal law enforcement officials announced.

Seven current and former managers of IFCO Systems, which has offices in several states, were arrested and charged in connection with the employment of illegal immigrants, said U.S. Attorney Glenn Suddaby in Albany, New York.

Suddaby said two lower level employees were also charged in the case.

Wednesday's action against IFCO Systems -- an industry leader in the manufacture of wooden pallets, crates and containers -- came as Homeland Security and Justice Department officials prepared to announce steps to toughen internal enforcement of the nation's immigration laws.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and other Bush administration officials and a federal prosecutor will appear at the agency's Washington headquarters Thursday. They will announce the new strategy aimed at employers and disclose the results of the enforcement actions targeting IFCO Systems.

Customs officials said agents made more than a thousand arrests in nearly 40 locations including Houston, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Phoenix, Arizona; and Albany, New York.

A customs official said federal authorities checked a "sample" of 5,800 IFCO employee records last year and found that 53 percent had faulty Social Security numbers.

"They were using Social Security numbers of people that were dead, of children or just different individuals that did not work at IFCO," Immigration and Customs agency chief Julie Myers told CNN.

"The Social Security Administration had written IFCO over 13 times and told them, 'Listen, You have a problem. You have over a thousand employees that have faulty Social Security numbers. And we consider that to be a big problem.' And IFCO did not do anything about it," Myers said.

Myers said a yearlong investigation revealed that IFCO managers had induced illegal immigrants to work there, telling some of them to doctor W-2 tax forms or saying that they did not need to fill out any documentation at all.

Myers and Suddaby will join Chertoff for Thursday's announcement.

Immigration legislation pending in Congress would increase penalties for companies that employ illegal immigrants.

The strictest immigration measures proposed have spurred a series of demonstrations by opponents nationwide in recent weeks. On Wednesday, hundreds of high school students protested at the Colorado Capitol in support of illegal immigrants, The Associated Press reported.

As public concern over illegal immigration has grown, federal law enforcement officials have sought to tighten enforcement of laws against employment of illegal immigrants. The charges include money laundering, harboring immigrants, illegal immigrant employment and wire fraud.

"It used to be in these cases that they amounted mainly to a slap on the wrist or a small civil fine," Myers told CNN. "We're now focusing on criminal cases and bringing as many criminal charges as we can when we find employers that blatantly violate work site enforcement laws."

Asked if senior managers knew or should have known about the alleged violations, Myers said, "There's no allegation of that at this time. It's certainly an ongoing investigation. I will tell you, though, that we are troubled by some of the things that we've seen at IFCO."

She said the company is cooperating with the investigation.

The criminal complaint against the seven managers charges them with conspiracy to transport, harbor, and employ illegal immigrants for private gain.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison for each illegal immigrant, officials said.

IFCO Systems, based in Germany, with more than 40 offices across the U.S., issued a statement late Wednesday acknowledging the federal action.

"IFCO Systems is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a workplace free of discrimination," the company said. "It is our policy to comply with all federal and state employee requirements."

But the IFCO statement did not directly address the charges.

"Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials today conducted employee background checks at a number of IFCO facilities across the country. We are cooperating fully with representatives from ICE and hope to have this matter resolved as soon as possible," the statement said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/20/im...ids/index.html


I really like the part that says the senior managers can get up to 10 years in prison for each illegal alien. Does anybody know email addresses of senior managers of Excel or National Beef? They should get this information.

[TexKan]

This is what went on in Houston with the same company.

this is the story

http://www.ktrh.com/cc-common/mainhe...article=386023

[Highwayman]

Thanks for posting this Bubba.

"They were using Social Security numbers of people that were dead, of children or just different individuals that did not work at IFCO," Immigration and Customs agency chief Julie Myers told CNN.

Using a faulty SS number is a felony and the protesters in the streets are claiming that illegal immigrants are not criminals. BS.

Myers said a yearlong investigation revealed that IFCO managers had induced illegal immigrants to work there, telling some of them to doctor W-2 tax forms or saying that they did not need to fill out any documentation at all.

Failing to properly file and pay taxes is also a felony.

The strictest immigration measures proposed have spurred a series of demonstrations by opponents nationwide in recent weeks. On Wednesday, hundreds of high school students protested at the Colorado Capitol in support of illegal immigrants, The Associated Press reported.

Given the picture on the Denver newspaper site, someone forgot to tell these kids that proudly displaying the Mexican flag just pisses people off.

http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/loc...636187,00.html

[Bubba]

You know, it really pisses me off when all these news articles and protests are supposed to be about immigrant rights. What they fail to realize is that most Americans have nothing against immigrants. What we are tired of and are trying to put a stop to is illegal immigration.

[TexKan]

They'll get the message when it's thier papa that is on the bus to mexico........ Maybe these brats are so self sufficient that they can take the greyhound over to mexico to visit thier folks after some of the laws take hold this summer.................... Can't wait to see how much money comes back to the great Liberal Federal programs......... when they start checkin legality......... they'll be breakin thier arms pattin themselves on the backs then. Too bad they didn't have the kahunnas to make that a requirement from the get go................

[jeezeweeze]

Correct me if I am wrong....

protestors in the sixtys were adults ...voting age weren't they....college age and up.....not friggin middle school.....high school...age.....??? huh...... Just goes to show ya
Their parents have no control.....or for that matter....most parents....
RIGHTS... RIGHTS.... RIGHTS
BRATS.....BRATS ...BRATS
ILLEGAL.....ILLEGAL....ILLEGAL........

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Bubba

... What we are tired of and are trying to put a stop to is illegal immigration.

Have you noticed the Sonny Bono quote that I added to my sig line?

When we were kids we were taught it wasn’t polite to cut into a line. The punishment was not letting us keep that place and sending the violator to the back of the line. It’s that simple. Now there’s folks in the Philippines that have been a line with papers filled out waiting for over twenty years. It’s my turn to use that “R” word. To let a Mexican or any other Latino cut in line ahead of those Philippians is racist damn it!

[Lone Gunman]

If these a-holes truly do spend time in jail after they get out they should be sent to mexico. There they can employ all of the mexicans they want it will be legal. They'll have one hell of a bunch to choose from.

[Lone Gunman]

Originally Posted by jeezeweeze

Correct me if I am wrong....

protestors in the sixtys were adults ...voting age weren't they....college age and up.....not friggin middle school.....high school...age.....??? huh...... Just goes to show ya
Their parents have no control.....or for that matter....most parents....
RIGHTS... RIGHTS.... RIGHTS
BRATS.....BRATS ...BRATS
ILLEGAL.....ILLEGAL....ILLEGAL........

The problem isn't that the parents have no control, the problem is that the parents are encouraging them to do it.

[Bubba]

Maybe because the children might be legal and the parents illegal????? The parents are using their children to have their voices heard?