Thread: Immigration enforcement is changing, growers told at Naples

Immigration enforcement is changing, growers told at Naples conference
By LAURA LAYDEN

Originally published 07:34 p.m., September 23, 2008
Updated 08:01 p.m., September 23, 2008

NAPLES — When it comes to immigration reform in the U.S., all may seem quiet.

But there is really a lot going on, the state’s growers learned Tuesday during one of three educational sessions at the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s 65th annual convention in Naples.

Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have become much more aggressive lately. A few years ago, it was rare to see an enforcement action taken at a job site against workers who are in this country illegally, said Monte Lake, a Washington, D.C., attorney with Siff & Lake LLP.

In August alone, the agency targeted three employers in three states that led to nearly 700 arrests, he said.

There were raids at Howard Industries, an electrical equipment plant in Mississippi, at Dallas International Airport in Texas, and at Mills Manufacturing, a parachute factory in Asheville, N.C.

More recently, agents raided a California flower grower, which led to more than 20 arrests. Agents acted on a call to a national tip line and found employees who were using fraudulent Social Security and alien registration numbers and falsely claiming to be U.S. citizens.

“It’s devastating,â€

[quote]At one end, they face trouble from federal agents if they are found with illegal workers.

At the other, they face the risk of lawsuits from workers over discrimination when they fire them or won’t hire them because they lack the proper identification.

“It’s not an alien force,â€

At the other, they face the risk of lawsuits from workers over discrimination when they fire them or won’t hire them because they lack the proper identification.



Not buying it....sorry. Legal workers WILL have the proper documentation and if there is a discrepancy will be able to easily correct it.

It is illegal aliens who will lack proper documentation and not be able to fix discrepancies.

Why would you fear being sued by criminals for simply following the law?



[b]It’s not an alien force,â€

[quote]Soon, the Department of Homeland Security will implement a new “no-matchâ€