Bottom Of The Barrel

Raid on the factory

Yesterday, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers with aid from local and state police rounded up 350 workers who could not prove they were in the country legally at the Michael Bianco, Inc. company which manufacturers leather and military goods. Additionally, the ICE took the factory owner and three of his managers into custody and they were charged with conspiring to encourage or induce illegal immigrants to live in the United States and conspiring to hire illegal immigrants. They face a maximum sentences of 6 months in prison and fines of $3,000 for each illegal immigrant they knowingly hired which could be as much as 175 years in prison and a fine 1 million dollars each. Also a New Bedford man who worked in a music store across the street from the factory, has been charged with providing fake identification documents to some of the factory workers. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This raid raises the question, do you target the immigrants of their employers to get this issue under control. Some would argue that these workers come to this country looking for a better way of life and to provide for their families and that they perform jobs that the typical American would not, say hand sewing all day. Others would argue that it's the employers who are required by federal law to verify each employee and file the proper paperwork and pay the appropriate taxes with the government. No one would argue that even though the immigrants are getting work and it maybe a better life here, that the companies owners are the ones stuffing their pockets with the profits from these mostly underpaid and overworked workers.

It's ironic that this company would manufacture safety vests and backpacks for the US military, employ illegal immigrant workers and then be busted by a federal agency. This should be a wake up call for any business owner out there and since ICE agents arrested 716 company officials on charges of violating immigration laws in 2006, compared with 25 in 2002, if you employ them, the ICE might be stopping by soon for a visit. Don't be surprised when they take you and your management team off to a military base for a few days of questioning.

Labels: Business

posted by TheWino @ 10:15 AM