"But the pressure on employers -- whose wages and hiring practices have lured illegal workers to both large cities and small towns -- has mostly been indirect and economic: While workplace arrests have risen tenfold since 2002, from 510 to 4,940, only 90 criminal arrests have involved company personnel officials.

So far, no officials at Agriprocessors have been charged. The company, founded by Aaron Rubashkin, has a storybook history whose recent chapters have turned murky. After some of Rubashkin's Lubavitch Hasidic family moved here from Brooklyn in 1987, the firm became the nation's largest processor of glatt kosher beef, the strictest kosher standard. It produces kosher and non-kosher beef, veal, lamb, turkey and chicken products under brands such as Iowa Best Beef, Aaron's Best and Rubashkin's."

So, they'll disrupt the lives of the poor working people but the creeps who hired them because they would work cheap aren't charged. Yay America.

Danni, I thought you were the one last year screaming in agreement with Lou Dobbs about the need to round up all the illegals?

I have to agree with Danni that the employers of illegals should be arrested too but since they can't be deported they should (speaking for myself here not Danni) face huge fines and mandatory imprisonment. Illegal immigration has depressed the wages of the lower paid working folks in the U.S. and put an unfair burden upon the American taxpayers and the Feds should pull no punches in putting a stop it.

Well, as a "Liberal" (don't consider myself one, but I'm sure you do), I think the problem isn't going to be resolved as long as businesses keep hiring illegals, dumbass. We can deport them all we want, but they'll just keep coming back if they can find jobs here. The only way to stop the hiring is to punish the businesses that do the hiring.

Moron.

Wake my up when this Administration has arrested the CEO of this meat packing plant an put others CEO in Jail for hiring these immigrants. This Administration is a fucking JOKE this dog pony show for the Media and the LOU DOBBS of the World is only fooling the Ultra Right Wing of Bushs party, what a NATIONAL disgrace.

Thes familys are being played for no other reason than the base of the Republician party wants to know that this Clown they call Presidents is doing something!!! I know it hard for some of you to understand but these are Humans just like some of you, well I mean after all they may not be the same color, but that all that you RAcist Fucks care about.

Let's try to think this through. If "liberals" keep trying to block enforcement through, for instance, calling those who support enforcement "racists" and by opposing anything that doesn't involve action against employers, then the current situation will continue.

However, if those who want to come here illegally know they'll be arrested and deported, then the situation will change. Most people aren't going to come here knowing that they'll be arrested and any future attempts to enter or remain illegally may be felonies with associated prison time.

So, the bottom line is that "liberals" who present dodges such as those above are assisting Bush, the MexicanGovernment, crooked banks and businesses, and so forth.

I read complaints here all the time that illegals are collecting welfare.
How come they aren't arrested at welfare offices? Or they too busy working to collect welfare? Does anybody know? Or are the complainers full of shit?

However, if those who want to come here illegally know they'll be arrested and deported, then the situation will change. Most people aren't going to come here knowing that they'll be arrested and any future attempts to enter or remain illegally may be felonies with associated prison time



Posted by LonewackoDotCom at 2008-05-18 05:51 PM
Great. Put 'em all in prison.

"Put the corporate heads responsible for hiring illegals in prison!"

signed: The left

"Our prisons are overcrowded because we keep putting non-violent criminals there. This is wrong!"

signed: The left

Well Lone, then why aren't illegals being arrested there along with the bureaucrats who give them the welfare? The contrast between arresting them were they work and not arresting them where they collect welfare has a strong stench to it.

Well Lone, then why aren't illegals being arrested there along with the bureaucrats who give them the welfare?

Excellent point

both illegals and those who hire them should be punished. the employers can be tracked, and if they do it a second time, then the punishment should be severe. unfortunately, the illegals are deported, but it doesn't sound like it's too tough for them to try and return. i'm not suggesting we lock everyone up, but there needs to be some sort of punishment that urges them NOT to return illegally. open for debate, but neither amnesty nor massive imprisonment seems logical.

Wake my up when this Administration has arrested the CEO of this meat packing plant an put others CEO in Jail for hiring these immigrants.

Posted by celisary

I don't think you are going to get much arguement with that statement.

I'm getting the impression that it is legal for illegals to collect welfare but illegal for illegals to work. We get the government we pay for, right up the ass.

I know every man will do what he can to find work to feed his family. I also know that no country in the world can absorb every person who needs a job. People keep saying that if you stop them from being employed then the illegals will leave and go home on their own.

I have one question to ask anyone who says that:

If you had to be unemployed, would you rather be unemployed back in the third world country you left or stay and be unemployed here in the United States?

Guess where the illegals will remain whether or not they have a job. There are plenty of other freebies here in the U.S. to collect -- food stamps, Section 8 housing, free schooling at taxpayers' expense, free medical care, welfare, Medicaid, etc. -- all given to illegals whether or not they have a job. Illegals cost California $9 billion last year alone, have shut down more than 80 L.A. County hospital emergency and trauma center, and have put our state on the verge of bankruptcy. Other non-illegal alien related factors contributed to our fiscal meltdown but a huge portion of it is due to the influx of illegals into California by the millions.

Now they want us to conserve our water or we will be penalized. Maybe if we didn't have to build housing and supply water to millions of people who shouldn't even be here in the first place we wouldn't have a water supply problem.

Mexico had four of its top federal officials slaughtered in the last two weeks by the Mexican drug cartels. Their war among themselves and between the cartels and the Mexican government is now spilling over the U.S. border. International gangs like MS-13 are now spread across the U.S.

It is no longer a border states' issue. It is a war zone in Mexico for complete control by the cartels of that narcocountry.

Here's the most recent article about it.

If the federal government would do its job, we wouldn't need a border fence or 8,000 more border patrol agents. The Social Security Administration has the ability to detect when stolen social security numbers are being used illegally. Also, the I.C.E. should target companies hiring large numbers illegal aliens with racketeering. The excuse that is often used that they can't confirm the validity of SSN's should be eliminated by a system similar to that used to check purchasers of firearms. Also, any illegal alien caught in this country should be sentenced to a term of 6 months confinement and immediate deportation thereafter.

And, YES, the corporate big boys should be arrested and not only slapped with HUGE fines for employing and exploiting illegal immigrant workers but they also need to do some serious jail time otherwise they will merely write off their monetary fine as a "cost of doing business."

Chris

You might address my complaint on why illegals can collect welfare but are not legally allowed to work. It's not the fault of illegals, if they are allowed to collect welfare, that's fault of the legislatures. No documents; no welfare. It very simple to enforce. More simple than maintaining a staff to go after businessmen.

Why not do both...BTW, I'm not opposed to LEGAL IMMIGRATION.
Here is an ironic twist, if you illegally enter Mexico it is considered a felony offense. I believe the same should be true for the USA! Quid Pro Quo...

Welfare is a joke in this country! Welfare is temporary fix not a means of living.

And, YES, the corporate big boys should be arrested and not only slapped with HUGE fines for employing and exploiting illegal immigrant workers

Illegals coming here to be exploited? I don't think they look at it that way.

saying it's not the illegals fault for collecting welfare is a bit much. true, the real problem is with the government for offering it, but the illegals play their part. if you take something knowing that it's not yours....well that's stealing in my book. if you buy drugs, of course the police would be best suited going after the dealers, but the buyer is breaking the law as well and leaves him/herself open to being arrested.

Illegals coming here to be exploited? I don't think they look at it that way.

Posted by Ray


I think that comment earns the much-coveted 'moment of clarity award' for the day.

and while we really don't need more people in prison, a 6 month stint would hopefully be an actual deterrent for illegal immigrants. a trip back to their home country so they can try again and again doesn't seem that severe.

I'm getting the impression that it is legal for illegals to collect welfare but illegal for illegals to work. We get the government we pay for, right up the ass.

Posted by Ray

Is this a great country or what?

Lets just give away all ny donations to SS to the illegals so there isn't any left for me. Hell, I just love donating to their cause. It dosen't matter that the money I put in isn't there for my retirement. Socialism at it's finest.

No wonder Mexicans are coming here en masse. If they can't find a job, they know they can fall back on welfare.

This is stupid beyond belief.

Sniper, the illusion that is the Social Security "Trust Fund" is just that, an illusion. Social Security is still generating a surplus that our elected federal legislators are squandering as I'm writing this. However, at the present rate of just over 15% tax on earned income up to about $100k, that surplus will dry-up in about 2015. Then, the only choices for SS payouts will be reduced benefits or higher taxes. The "Trust Fund" into which you have been paying is composed of Treasury bonds and is about as worthless as toilet paper. Just Social Security for the baby boomer generation amounts to an unfunded liability of about 32 trillion dollars. Add to that the cost of Medicare and the price more than doubles. From where will all that money come? Even with the inflation rate we have, it will not be sufficient to monetize the coming debt.

deport and put the execs who hire them in work camps

This problem is going to get 100x fold worse in our lifetimes because Mexico is going to run out of Oil soon. That is near HALF the government's income.

Mexico is already piss poor, when oil is gone, they are going to be SUPER SUPER off the scale poor and MILLIONS are going to head to the USA.

So this is where I make the following proposal.

Put the United States Marines on the Border. Anyone that steps foot across the border gets shot in the head, no mercy.

Problem solved,

signed,

The Right Wing of the Republican Party.

I have 0 emotional attachment to people killing the USA slowly through invasion. Its war people. You don't see it now, but when Mexico runs out of oil, its coming to you.

The war is coming to you. Arm yourselves.

Kuma

Part of the reasoning you use is you are calling them Mexicans. In the Sunday Register we find most of those caught are from Guatamala, which is supposedly even more poor than Mexico and they DO NOT have oil wells down there.

Regardless, illegal is illegal is illegal. Employers as well as employees count here. Ship the illegal workers, assuming they are immigrants, back across the border and throw the employers asses in jail and fine them so damned heavy they need to get a second job and then go after the rest of those employing illegals the same way. Get serious and send a BIG signal. And do it before election day too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, jail time costs those incarcerated $25 a day here in Iowa. That is on top of any fines. If your excuse is you cannot pay it due to no job or some other lame excuse the state simply works your ass off but they do get their money believe me.

"Social Security is still generating a surplus that our elected federal legislators are squandering as I'm writing this."

True, but why??? BEcause outlays excede revenues collected from taxes and who lowered the tax rates which require the working class who pay into SS to subsidize the federal government in excess of their share of income tax??? Ronnie Raygun again the culprit who began robbing SS and lowering income taxes. Others have done the same but we must look to this cherished icon of the conservatives to see the original borrow and spender.

BEcause outlays excede revenues collected from taxes and who lowered the tax rates which require the working class who pay into SS to subsidize the federal government in excess of their share of income tax??? Ronnie Raygun again the culprit who began robbing SS and lowering income taxes.


Wrong.


A Bi-partisan agreement was reached during Reagan's presidency that extended the solvency of SS for several decades. A big part of said agreement was a considerable increase in taxes collected on behalf of SS.

Fact is SS is a Ponzi scheme. This in itself isn't necessarily a problem as long as we have modest, but sustained population growth. However, that ain't what happened. The 'Greatest Generation' was great in more ways than one, including the bedroom. They procreated like a bunch of horny rabbits and we now have a huge bulge in our population that is about to stop producing tax revenues and is about to start collecting benefits en masse.

As I mentioned earlier, privatisation isn't the answer - we missed our window of opportunity on that 20 years ago. SS is a looming disaster. IMO the least worst solution will be a combination of a reduction in benefits, starting with an increased age as to when benies can be drawn, and a tax increase of some sort.

Between corporate subsidies, unncecessary earmarks, out-of-control entitlements and a bloated military we are eating ourselves from within.

Sniper, the illusion that is the Social Security "Trust Fund" is just that, an illusion.

Posted by Vancouver_Bob

I know that van. It was a trust was until LBJ pulled the big raid. That's why it is in such big trouble.

I'm here in Des Moines, and this story has pretty much the whole state in an uproar.

90% of everyone I've spoken to is very adament that charges be brought up against the owners/operators of the processing plant.

I'm sorry, but you can't have 50%+ of your employees illegal and not pay a price. ALSO, many articles are leaving out that Agriprocessors helped many of these people forge documents etc.

It's dirtbags like Agriprocessors who are enabling this shit.

I say, line them up, shoot them, and shoot those that hire them in the leg. (to start), save money, bullets are cheap. there all breaking the law, if you dont like it, change the law (good luck),

they should punish the employers and illegals alike. period.