Immigration raids target employers

Inspiration for this post was stolen from Mikes America Except he runs a kinder gentler machine than I do.

This is an important step, and one that should be continued. However we CAN NOT allow a few raids deter us from the main objective. THE BORDER MUST BE SECURED PERIOD. In the last 50 years this issue has been "dealt with" twice. Each time it was a two part plan first Amnesty for the ILLEGALS and then they promised they would secure the Border. Each time they did the first part, but NOT the second part. WE HAVE TO INSIST THAT THIS TIME THE FIRST PART IS SECURING THE BORDER! The Second part being then the Amnesty, so if they don't do the second part this time Oh Well. This issue is THE issue of the next two elections. We need to hold their feet to the fire. If they don't do what we want fine, let the Dems win back control of the House. After two years of censure and impeachment hearings, the raising of our taxes, an end to the NSA terror surveillance program, and a repeal of the Patriot Act. Mickey Mouse could be the Republican Candidate and he will win.

Homeland Security launches a nationwide crackdown

By Pete Williams
Justice correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 7:04 p.m. ET April 19, 2006

WASHINGTON - With America engaged in a spirited debate over illegal immigration, the Homeland Security Department Wednesday launched a nationwide crackdown on employing illegal immigrations. And this time, the targets weren’t just the workers themselves.
Police and federal agents moved in Wednesday morning at dozens of plants nationwide owned by a global manufacturing company called IFCO Systems, which supplies containers and pallets for shipping to some of the nation’s biggest retailers.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested suspected illegal immigrants at a facility in Houston—a scene repeated today at 40 other IFCO locations.
But federal officials say the main targets of the operation—months in the planning—are company officials, not just workers.
“We’re alleging, for the individuals that have been charged, that they knowingly assisted in the employment of illegal aliens and in some cases harbored illegal aliens,” says Immigration & Customs Enforcement’s Julie Myers.
For years, federal agents have conducted job site raids, arresting undocumented workers. But employers were generally given fines. Now, Homeland Security says it’s using laws traditionally directed against drug smugglers and organized crime.
Just last week, the owners of a chain of Baltimore restaurants pleaded guilty to money laundering for hiring illegal workers and were forced to give up over a million dollars in property and cars, including a Mercedes.
Advocates of tougher enforcement, like immigration enforcement advocate Dan Stein, say it’s an approach that’s long overdue.
“Folks need to stop looking at illegal immigration as some kind of charitable act, that employers are doing people a favor,” Stein says, “This is predatory human exploitation. It should be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law.”
Homeland Security officials insist that today’s high profile operation was months in the planning and was not ginned up in response to the political crisis over immigration policy.