Agriprocessors Charged With Federal Immigration Crimes
Good news for those who wanted to see Agriprocessors, Inc. charged with more than workplace violations. The company, its former CEO and four other employees have been charged with federal immigration crimes. Charges include a combination of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens for profit, harboring illegal aliens for profit, conspiring to commit document fraud, aiding and abetting document fraud, aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft, and bank fraud.
As satisfying as it may be to see the focus change from the undocumented worker to the employer, no one wins here, folks. Has any good come out of this raid? Admittedly, the meat-packing plant has a history of violations related to food safety, pollution and workplace safety, and recent employees have revealed terrible working conditions. May's raid also uncovered child labor violations and bank fraud in addition to the immigration-related offenses. One could argue that it was time this company was shut down.
But let's not forget that the $5 million raid has separated children from their parents. The Postville Jewish community is in shambles. Plant employees (which include American citizens and legal residents) have gone for weeks without pay and are now left wondering about their families' future after the company filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. Things have gotten so bad, that the Mayor has taken steps to declare a state of emergency.
This mess has been a year in the making. The ICE investigation began in October 2007 and the raid took place in May of this year. The town of Postville, Iowa is falling apart. Hard-working immigrants hoping to make a better life for themselves have been deported. Does anyone still believe that these large-scale immigration raids are the answer?
Comments
Yes, people still believe large-scale immigration raids are the answer. How can you forget or overlook the fact that it is the illegal’s selfish decisions that cause family separation. Illegals pay no taxes. I pay for their roads, public utilities, hospitals, schools, medical care and the enormous cost of these raids. All because of their selfishness. My wife (a legal Russian immigrant) is going through the immigration process legally. She is sickened by what she sees happening here with illegal immigration. Her answer? Round up and deport them all. Also, your comment “hard-working immigrants” should correctly read “hard-working illegal immigrants”.
Great comment. Its seem no bothers to ask the American taxpayer who foots the illegal immigtants bill for healthcare,education,and other benefits that may not be available to American citizens. ICE keep upthe raids. Go after the the Companies for harboring/and employing “Illegals”
Mark Smith,Simi Valley,ca
Have a heart. The “illegals” referred to in other letters are in fact human beings with families who love them. They would rather stay at home but conditions there have made that nearly impossible. Does anyone bother to find out why? Trade policies that benefit wealthy nations have left their economies in ruins so they go where there is some chance of providing for their families. Americans think they can insulate themselves from problems by erecting walls to keep out “undesirables” instead of trying to fix the problem. We hack at the leaves while the roots continue to grow. Furthermore, I’m certain that if potential immigrants from other continents had only a river and not an ocean to cross, there would be many more “illegals” to deal with. We need to find ways to help our brothers and sisters around the world heal their economies so that they don’t have to make horrendous journeys to other countries that are hostile to anyone who looks or sounds different. Many of the immigrants who have come here from Spanish speaking countries have families here now. Demographics change and we need to smooth the transition. Those who call for deportation are the selfish ones. The planet belongs to everyone, not just white Americans.