Thread: CA-Sale benefits unemployed illegal immigrants

Sale benefits unemployed illegal immigrants
American Apparel sells clothes at up to 85% off, with proceeds going to help the 1,600 employees recently let go after federal inspections found problems with their immigration documentation.

Hundreds of people shopped in American Apparel's parking lot on Saturday, some waiting an hour or more to get in.


By Patrick J. McDonnell

December 20, 2009
It was a holiday sale for a singular group of beneficiaries -- illegal immigrants who had been thrown out of work.

"It makes me feel less guilty for buying all this stuff," said Dolores Arellano, 19, one of hundreds of shoppers who thronged Saturday to the parking lot of American Apparel in downtown Los Angeles.

The trendy, L.A.-based clothier sponsored the "Justice for Immigrants" event to benefit some 1,600 employees let go in recent months after federal inspections uncovered discrepancies in their immigration documentation.

All the proceeds from the sale will go to the families of the dismissed workers and to organizations representing immigrants, said Peter Schey, an attorney for American Apparel in the immigration case.

American Apparel has been a strong proponent of changes in immigration law that would enable many illegal immigrants to attain lawful status. One of its bestselling items is a T-shirt bearing the Legalize LA logo, a motto that also appears on a massive banner adorning the firm's plant in the garment district.

Saturday's pre-Christmas sale featured discounts of up to 85% on shirts, sweaters, dresses and sundry other items.

The crowd was larger than expected, and workers were constantly carting in boxes of new clothing to be placed on racks and bins spread across the parking lot, flea-market style. Some shoppers waited more than an hour to get in; later, they faced a half-hour wait to pay. The policy was cash only, no returns.

Some shoppers were on board with the sale's pro-immigrant thrust.

"You're buying things at a good price, but it's for a good cause," Robyn Ybarra, 22, said as she and friends picked through the racks. "I'm for immigration reform."

Others seemed more attracted by the prices than the charity.

"Everybody's entitled to their opinions, but I feel people should come here legally and by the rules, like we did," said Sahara Ayineh, 19, who said she emigrated from Iran with her family.

Her sister, Saba Ayineh, said the prices were favorable compared with those at retail stores.

"American Apparel is usually overpriced," she said after purchasing an armful of new clothes. "This is more reasonable."

Among the crowds picking through the bins were American Apparel employees and friends of the dismissed workers.

"Many of our colleagues have lost their jobs, so it's good to know this will be a help for them," said Carmen Garcia, 37, a native of El Salvador. "It's very hard for them to find jobs now."

Although the Obama administration has mostly ended the high-profile work-site immigration raids endorsed by the Bush White House, it has stepped up federal document audits of companies and workers.

Firms found to have workers whose documentation does not match official records may be subject to sanctions.

Supporters call the audits a humane way to enforce immigration law, without the disruption of raids. But critics call the audits inhumane "desktop raids" that still force low-income immigrants out of work.

patrick.mcdonnell @latimes.com


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... al+News%29

I'm going to write American Apparel and suggest that they move their business to Mexico.

Since they are so concerned about the plight of illegal alien Mexicans being out of work it just makes sense......

By moving their business to Mexico, they will be employing thousands of Mexicans within their home country and thereby eliminate the need for them to come or remain, here in the US illegally.

Kind of along the lines of the "teach a man to fish....." wisdom.

Obviously, they will have to change their name to reflect the move and their preferred workforce but hey.....what's in a minor detail?

Inhumane desktop raids? That's a new one on me!
Americans enforcing American laws against other Americans is somehow inhumane? Horsepuckey!!! But I guess anything that involves illegals is inhumane, and probably bigoted and racist as well.
What a slap in the face of citizens and legal immigrants!

Originally Posted by vortex

Inhumane desktop raids? That's a new one on me!
Americans enforcing American laws against other Americans is somehow inhumane? Horsepuckey!!! But I guess anything that involves illegals is inhumane, and probably bigoted and racist as well.
What a slap in the face of citizens and legal immigrants!

Doesn't it give you pause to wonder how the American citizens and legal immigrants hired to replace the illegls are being treated in the workplace?

I can almost guarantee that they are falling victim to more than their share of workplace bullying and harassment....especially from the friends, familiy, and fellow countrymen of those who lost their jobs.

"Everybody's entitled to their opinions, but I feel people should come here legally and by the rules, like we did," said Sahara Ayineh, 19, who said she emigrated from Iran with her family.

Agreed! So why are you buying clothes from a company who openly advocates for illegal invaders and the violation of our immigration laws?

Amazing!

Originally Posted by azwreath

Originally Posted by vortex

Inhumane desktop raids? That's a new one on me!
Americans enforcing American laws against other Americans is somehow inhumane? Horsepuckey!!! But I guess anything that involves illegals is inhumane, and probably bigoted and racist as well.
What a slap in the face of citizens and legal immigrants!

Doesn't it give you pause to wonder how the American citizens and legal immigrants hired to replace the illegls are being treated in the workplace?

I can almost guarantee that they are falling victim to more than their share of workplace bullying and harassment....especially from the friends, familiy, and fellow countrymen of those who lost their jobs.

I wouldn't be surprised in the least to learn that this militant company, who has made no attempts to hide their illegal actions from anyone prior, didn't go out and hire another round of illegal invaders!

Supporters call the audits a humane way to enforce immigration law, without the disruption of raids. But critics call the audits inhumane "desktop raids" that still force low-income immigrants out of work

"desktop raids"? What will they think of next? And why call them "low-income immigrants" when what they really mean is ILLEGAL ALIENS?

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Originally Posted by azwreath

Originally Posted by vortex

Inhumane desktop raids? That's a new one on me!
Americans enforcing American laws against other Americans is somehow inhumane? Horsepuckey!!! But I guess anything that involves illegals is inhumane, and probably bigoted and racist as well.
What a slap in the face of citizens and legal immigrants!

Doesn't it give you pause to wonder how the American citizens and legal immigrants hired to replace the illegls are being treated in the workplace?

I can almost guarantee that they are falling victim to more than their share of workplace bullying and harassment....especially from the friends, familiy, and fellow countrymen of those who lost their jobs.

I wouldn't be surprised in the least to learn that this militant company, who has made no attempts to hide their illegal actions from anyone prior, didn't go out and hire another round of illegal invaders!

In absolute agreement with you there NB!!

I've said as much about Agriprocessors.....several times and will keep saying it.

When it comes to these businesses which have been raided, I find it very difficult to believe that they have changed anything except for better covering their tracks.

American Apparel is usually overpriced," she said after purchasing an armful of new clothes. "This is more reasonable."

So it's not true that hiring IA's will keep prices low. This statement says it all!!!!!!

These people are more concerned about ILEGAL ALIENS losing a job then the American citizens. I say too bad for these SOBS. DEPORT THEM NOW!