Thread: Immigration officials urged to focus on McDonald's workers

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... -1/ZONES01

May 1, 2006


Immigration officials urged to focus on McDonald's workers


Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS -- U.S. Rep. John Hostettler is suggesting that immigration officials looking for illegal immigrants should investigate businesses which warn that today's planned work boycott by Hispanic employees could force them to scale back their services.

Many Hispanics across the nation plan to take part in a walkout today to protest stricter immigration legislation.

Some businesses, such as fast-food giant McDonald's, have warned that a mass walkout could impact their ability to provide services.

That prompted Hostettler, R-Ind., to write to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, suggesting that it "look into the hiring practices of McDonald's and other such places of employment that are temporarily closing due to lack of workers on the day of the boycott."

Hostettler, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims, added that: "If McDonald's is concerned that they might not have enough workers to fulfill current production, it follows that many of these workers might be illegal aliens who will be boycotting their jobs that day."

Organizers of today's planned protest have been urging immigrants not to shop, work or attend school to highlight the impact of immigrants on American society.

The plans have divided Indiana's Hispanic community, with some groups trying to put a more positive spin on the boycott and others flatly opposing it.

The campaign is aimed at pressuring Congress to legalize illegal immigrants.

That prompted Hostettler, R-Ind., to write to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, suggesting that it "look into the hiring practices of McDonald's and other such places of employment that are temporarily closing due to lack of workers on the day of the boycott."

Makes me proud to be a Hoosier. Unfortunately, it makes too much sense for ICE to follow through on it.

I'm doing my part to help McDonalds through their worker shortage, by not doing business there today, or any other day.

I am also boycotting McDonalds for hiring illegal workers. And yes it would make sense to investigate large corporations that are closing or scaling back due to large numbers of employees taking today off, as most likely they are illegal aliens.