Companies using illegal workers are finally in the
cross hairs as over 1000 are arrested
Finally, the Bush Administration is cracking down on companies using illegal alien
workers. In multi state raids...9 executives at IFCO Systems were arrested along with over
1000 illegals. Note: this investigation was ongoing, since last year.
Over 13 complaints were made by Social Security to IFCO. The arrests just took place.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff held a news conference in response to the
huge outcry about lack of security on the borders. Chertoff said, "We're looking at
them in the same way we look at criminal organizations."
IFCO is an industry leader in the manufacture of wooden pallets, crates and containers.
The criminal complaint involving IFCO charges the seven managers with conspiracy to
transport, harbor, and employ illegal immigrants for private gain.
Customs Enforcement officials checked a sample of close to 6,000 IFCO employee records
last year and found that 53 percent had false 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.
"The Social Security Administration had written IFCO over 13 times and told them,
they had a problem. You have over a thousand employees that have faulty Social Security
numbers. And we consider that to be a big problem,'" said Myers. "And IFCO did
not do anything about it." A yearlong investigation revealed that IFCO managers had
induced illegal aliens to work there, telling some to doctor W-2 tax forms and others that
no documentation was needed at all. It used to be in these cases that they amounted mainly
to a small civil fine.
At his press conference, Chertoff said that under the Secure Borders Initiative, law
enforcement officials would detect and catch those who cross the border illegally; detain
and return them to their home countries; and target those already in the United States. Of
particular importance are illegal immigrant smuggling operations, which have become a
multibillion dollar business.
In its 2007 budget request, the Department of Homeland Security is asking Congress for
more money to expand its documentation verification system. The abuse of the Social
Security system and its documents are a key challenge, Chertoff said. Industries relating
to critical infrastructure such as nuclear power plants, transportation and national
defense are among those being targeted.
IFCO Systems has more than 40 offices in the U.S. They issued a statement after the
arrests."It is our policy to comply with all federal and state employee
requirements." The IFCO statement did not directly address the charges.
"Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials 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.
ICE officials said agents made more than a thousand arrests in nearly 40 locations
including Houston; Cincinnati; Phoenix; and Albany, New York.
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