Thread: Missouri immigration raids

Missouri immigration raids
Posted: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 at 10:37 PM

JEFFERSON CITY, MO -- Dozens of suspected illegal immigrants were taken into custody after an investigation at Missouri's state capitol.

The two month long investigation by local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE) found that Sam's Janitorial Service allegedly employed dozens of suspected illegal workers.

On Tuesday, Governor Matt Blunt announced he was canceling the state contract with Sam's Janitorial Service, as well as enacting tougher restrictions for other state contracts.

A state audit was also ordered on all state contractors to ensure that all employees working with the state are legally eligible to work in the U-S.

http://www.khqa.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=29189

Way to go governor! Wish you were here in Texas in stead of Hair Care Perry.

Dixie

Suspected Illegal Immigrants Found Working in State Office Buildings

Last Edited: Tuesday, 06 Mar 2007, 7:25 PM CST
Created: Tuesday, 06 Mar 2007, 7:25 PM CST

Matt Blunt Jefferson City, MO -- News release from Missouri Governor Matt Blunt:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Blunt Ousts Contractor Who Hired Illegal Workers
Announces Joint Enforcement Action with State Agencies

JEFFERSON CITY - Following a state employee's tip that tonight led to the detainment of dozens of suspected illegal immigrants, Gov. Matt Blunt today ousted a state contractor who hired illegal workers and ordered state agencies to enact a no tolerance policy through tough new contract protections.

"I will not tolerate illegal activity, immigration or otherwise, among our state contractors," Blunt said. "I commend our Housekeeping Manager Vernon Morris, whose keen attention ultimately led to the detainment of suspected illegal workers. His efforts, coupled with new expertise now available through the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) played a significant role in helping to uncover the suspected illegal workers.

Enacting tough new contract language will send a clear signal to all contractors: if you knowingly hire illegal workers, the state of Missouri will not do business with you."

Blunt cancelled the state's contract with Sam's Janitorial Services and barred them from doing further business with the state after local and federal law enforcement agencies identified dozens of suspected illegal immigrants working under falsified documents.

Vernon Morris, a state employee who serves as the Housekeeping Manager, first noticed inconsistencies in the contract staff's documents and tipped off the Capitol Police.

The Blunt Administration immediately reached out to the U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) Office as state law enforcement worked with MIAC to identify illegal workers.

The governor immediately took action and by executive order tonight directed state agencies to audit all contractors to ensure that the contract employees are legally eligible to work in the U.S. and to terminate contracts if it is determined a contractor employs illegal immigrants.

He further directed that tough new provisions be included in all future state contracts to allow the state to immediately cancel contracts if it determines the contractor knowingly has employees not eligible to work in the U.S. The new provisions will further require all contractors to certify that all their employees meet state and federal employment eligibility requirements.

The new contract language will ensure that Missouri may always cancel contracts when illegal employment practices are uncovered.

After an almost two month investigation, a joint enforcement operation was initiated this evening. ICE and local law enforcement detained suspected illegal workers from Sam's Janitorial Services' when they came into work this evening. After questioning, illegal immigrants will be transported and detained in Kansas City before they are returned to their home country.

Sam's Janitorial Services is operated out of Oklahoma. The contractor provided services in four state office buildings in Jefferson City. Their first contract with the state was awarded in 1998.

http://link.toolbot.com/myfoxstl.com/67939

Feds looking at whether arrested janitors had fake IDs


By CHRIS BLANK
Wednesday, March 7, 2007 3:44 PM CST

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Federal agents are investigating whether 22 illegal immigrants arrested while working for a state janitorial contractor were using stolen identities.



U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Wednesday that its agents also seized documents and computer equipment from the office of Sam's Janitorial Services at the Truman State Office Building in Jefferson City.

Pete Baird, assistant special agent in charge of the ICE office in Kansas City, said the agency is investigating whether any of the illegal immigrants had been using fraudulent paperwork. Agents recently have noticed more illegal immigrants using identities stolen from U.S. citizens to obtain employment and avoid discovery, he said.

Initially, the governor's office and Baird reported that 25 illegal immigrants had been detained Tuesday night when the janitorial workers gathered for what they had been told was a special meeting.

A news release on Wednesday instead reported that 22 had been arrested.

A spokesman for ICE said it is not uncommon for initial figures to be revised. Spokesman Carl Rusnok said he knows that of the 25 detained Tuesday, two were released after it was determined they were in the United States legally.

Those who were detained are citizens of Chile, Ecuador and Mexico; 14 are males and eight are females.

Records filed with the Missouri Secretary of State show that Kwabena Asamoah-Boadu, of Omaha, Ark., registered Sam's Janitorial Service in 2001.

Asamoah-Boadu told the Kansas City Star on Tuesday night that all his workers had shown him Social Security cards or immigration papers and that he didn't realize some of his employees were illegal immigrants.

"I did all they told me to do. I didn't do anything wrong," he told the newspaper.

Asamoah-Boadu said his only clue that something might have been wrong was when someone left him a note accusing him of hiring illegal immigrants.

No one returned messages left Tuesday night and Wednesday by The Associated Press for a Jefferson City phone number listed for Sam's Janitorial Services.

Sam's Janitorial Services, an Oklahoma-based company, had nine contracts to perform custodial work in Jefferson City, Columbia and Kansas City. All the people detained Tuesday worked in Jefferson City office buildings.

Gov. Matt Blunt said he has barred the company from doing any further business with the state. He has also signed an executive order directing state agencies to review state contractors to ensure companies with state bids hire employees allowed to work in the United States.


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