4 arrested for employing illegal aliens

I.C.E. News Release

February 24, 2012
Gulfport, MS

4 arrested for employing illegal aliens

GULFPORT, Miss. — The owner and three managers of three local restaurants are facing federal charges related to the conspiracy to knowingly employ illegal aliens and to harbor them from authorities following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Federal special agents arrested the owner and three managers via criminal complaint and served search warrants Thursday at two restaurants in Picayune, Miss., and one restaurant in Poplarville, Miss. Special agents also criminally arrested two Mexican citizens for re-entering the United States after deportation, which is a federal felony. A total of 16 illegal alien males working illegally at the three restaurants were taken into custody and processed for deportation proceedings.

"With HSI's aggressive approach to worksite enforcement investigations, business owners are taking a big gamble when they seek to enhance their profits by breaking the law," said Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., special agent in charge of HSI New Orleans. "Our special agents will continue to work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office to investigate and prosecute these crimes." Parmer is responsible for HSI operations in the states of Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama.

Owner Jose Gutierrez, 36, and employees Vicente Jimenez, 39, Juan Barajas, 58, and Evaristo Jimenez, 38, have all made their initial appearances in federal court. They are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Criminal investigations are just one of many tools HSI is using to reduce the demand for illegal employment and protect job opportunities for the nation's lawful workforce. That enforcement strategy also includes the expanded use of civil penalties, employer audits and debarment. In fiscal year 2011, HSI initiated audits involving 2,496 employers nationwide – surpassing the record number conducted in all of fiscal year 2010. During that same time frame, HSI issued 385 final fine notices totaling more than $10 million to employers across the country, again surpassing the record fine total in fiscal year 2010.

A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

4 arrested for employing illegal aliens

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knowingly employ illegal aliens and to harbor them from authorities

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Isn't this what Sactuary States (California) and cities are doing?

This is to be considered an EXTREMELY TINY victory in the grand scheme of things...All 4 came from only 1 business....California needs some MAJOR busts...and along the East Coast as well!!..Im wondering WHY they get a "day in court"? They are ILLEGAL, what more is there?? Would we Americans get a "day in court" if we were Found to be Illegal in any other country?? NOPE

February 28, 2012
ICE files charges in Mexican restaurant raid

By David A. Farrell, Item Staff Writer The Picayune Item

PICAYUNE — Immigration officials in Gulfport said, in a Monday press release, that they arrested and charged the owner and three managers in connection with Thursday’s raid that shut down three Mexican restaurants in Pearl River County for what authorities alleged was violation of U.S. immigration laws.

Charges were filed against the four for what immigration officials said was a conspiracy to knowingly employ illegal aliens and to harbor them from authorities.

The four charged were owner Jose Gutierrez, 36, and employees Vicente Jimenez, 39, Juan Barajas, 58, and Evaristo Jimenez, 38, the press release said, which came from the office of Temple Black, the public affairs spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Orleans.

The release said that a total of 16 people were taken into custody on Thursday and processed for deportation.

However, Gutierrez’ attorney, Joe Hollomon of Jackson, told the Item on Monday shortly after the ICE release was given to the press, “We all must understand that these are only charges, and Mr. Gutierrez under our system is presumed innocent. We have not been able to present any of our side of the case. These are only charges and he has not been able so far to present his side of the story. We would hope that the people in the community, his friends and associates, who patronize his restaurants and who know him and his family, would withhold judgment until we are able to present our side of the case and they hear the full story.”

Federal agents served search warrants and arrested the owner and the three managers in a raid that saw the El Mariachi restaurants in Poplarville and Picayune shut down and the El Vaquero Chido restaurant in Picayune closed on Thursday.

However, Gutierrez reopened El Vaquero Chido on Saturday morning. He said the other two would not be reopened right now. He said he had no comment Saturday about the federal raid. On Monday his attorney, Hollomon, spoke on his behalf, after ICE released its statement.

In the ICE statement, Black said a total of 16 alleged illegal alien males working illegally at the three restaurants were taken into custody and processed for deportation proceedings.

The investigations was conducted by ICE, an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Officers at El Mariachi in Picayune on Thursday would answer no questions from an Item reporter, and referred him to Black. The officers were in plain clothes and in unmarked cars.

Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., special agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, said in the press release,“With HSI’s aggressive approach to worksite enforcement investigations, business owners are taking a big gamble when they seek to enhance their profits by breaking the law. Our agents will continue to work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute these crimes.”

Parmer is over ICE operations in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama, according to the release.

Authorities also said they criminally arrested during the raid two Mexican citizens for re-entering the U.S. after deportation, which is a felony.

A preliminary hearing in court on the charges is scheduled to be held on Wednesday in Gulfport, said Holllomon.

All those charged already have made an initial appearance in court, according to the release.

One Old Vet

ICE files charges in Mexican restaurant raid » Local News » The Picayune Item

Looks like ICE gets the property and assets - at least some money will be obtained (hopefully)

If I had the money, I would put up billboards with the names and faces of these TRAITORS to the AMERICAN WORKER and OUR NATION!