Thread: NY-Wayne Cnty Frm Bu asks for probe of border patrol stops

Wayne County Farm Bureau asks for probe of border patrol stops
August 19, 2009 6:38PM

Wolcott, NY -- The Wayne County Farm Bureau is requesting a federal inquiry into the U.S. Border Patrol stop and subsequent detention of four Mexican farm workers Monday on Route 414.

The border patrol officer in charge of the scene told the men's employer their car was stopped because the men "looked suspicious at us" as they passed the border patrol sedan.

"This is a clear case of racial profiling," said Wayne County Farm Bureau President Phil Wagner, who was present at the stop. He said this is the latest incident of an increase of Homeland Security enforcement activities in the county during the past two years.

Wagner said he believes Border Patrol seems to be targeting western New York, and Wayne County in particular.

A.J. Price, speaking for the Border Patrol, said Border Patrol agents do not racially profile. He said these men were questioned because their car was stopped in the intersection of Routes 414 and 104 in Wolcott and was blocking traffic.

Wayne County Farm Bureau and the New York Apple Association, as well as U.S. Apple in Washington, D.C. and Rep. Dan Maffei, D-Syracuse, have been monitoring Border Patrol stops in Wayne County.

Farm Bureau and the apple growers have made numerous complaints about what they call racial profiling in Wayne County, the state's largest apple producing county. Maffei had a meeting with Homeland Security officials last month to discuss the situation.

Border Patrol is a part of the Homeland Security agency.

Price said Farm Bureau officials and apple growers in Wayne County have been told if they see any unprofessional or unwarranted behavior by a Border Patrol agent, they are supposed to file a complaint with Border Patrol. He said no one has filed a complaint.

Wagner said the officer in charge at the Aug. 17 stop accused the workers of being illegal and accused their employer, Brian Doyle of Wolcott, of "being a federal criminal."

Doyle, who has employed the men for several years, said the men have legitimate paperwork and Social Security numbers. But Price said the problem is migrant workers sometimes show a farm owner paperwork that is not authentic.

A check of the men's vehicle at the scene by the state police showed no issues and there were no outstanding warrants issued for them. They were held by Border Patrol to have their paperwork checked and were found to be illegal, Price said.

The four men now is in the deportation process, Price said.

Doyle and Wagner as well as two other farmers, went to the scene of the stop which Wagner said is near where they both live. Wagner said Doyle asked the Border Patrol officers several times why the workers were stopped, but the officers would not initially answer the question.

Neither of the two officers at the scene would identify themselves by name or show identification. Price said Border Patrol agents do not have to answer questions from third parties and do not have to show identification if they are uniformed officers.


http://blog.syracuse.com/farms/2009/08/ ... ureau.html

I am certain all the screamers are using E-Verify before hiring any labor.
This is fly-ridden manure!