Thread: Effects felt 2 years after raid on Mass. warehouse {SOB}

3/7/2009, 7:12 p.m. ESTThe Associated Press

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) — It's been two years since federal immigration agents raided a leather-goods factory and U.S. military supplier and arrested nearly 400 workers suspected of being in the country illegally. But immigrant advocates say the effects on the community still can be felt.

Eva Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said some cases from the raid remain unsolved and some families aren't sure if they will be split up permanently because of deportations.

"There's a general fear that's spread in the community," Millona said.

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In March 2007, federal agents raided Michael Bianco Inc., in New Bedford, about 60 miles south of Boston, and arrested 361 workers, most of whom were from Central America.

Michael Bianco had 85 employees in 2002, when it began winning bids to supply gear to the military. It was up to 325 workers in 2004, when it landed an $82 million contract to make vests and backpacks for the Pentagon's purchasing arm.

Federal officials said the company's rapid growth was on the backs of illegal immigrants, and they arrested its owner and top managers.

As of last week, 168 of the arrested workers had been deported, and 116 were awaiting court rulings. Meanwhile, 26 had received deportation orders, and 16 had their residency changed to legal status. The statuses of other cases were unclear.

Immigrant advocates criticized the raid for separating families and leaving children without proper care. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the raid was properly handled.

In January, factory owner Francesco Insolia was sentenced to a year in prison for harboring and concealing illegal immigrants. The company was ordered to pay $1 million for 18 counts of knowingly hiring illegal immigrants between 2004 and late 2006.

Insolia's attorney, Frank Libby Jr., said the nation's immigration enforcement puts too much pressure on employers.

"It's left at the employers' door — the one and only point where the country's immigration policies are supposed to be enforced," he said.

http://www.masslive.com/newsflash/index ... t=massnews

I HAVE NO PITY FOR THESE PEOPLE.


DEPORT ALL OF THEM INCLUDING THE KIDS.

ITS THEIR OWN FAULTS FOR HAVING KIDS AND NOT BEING A LEGAL CITIZEN.

Insolia's attorney, Frank Libby Jr., said the nation's immigration enforcement puts too much pressure on employers.

"It's left at the employers' door — the one and only point where the country's immigration policies are supposed to be enforced," he said.

Hello! What hallucinogen are you on? If you don't have identity checks by employers, you have employers violating the law by aiding and abetting illegals. It is the responsibility of the employer to know who they are hiring before the first dollar is spent paying that person. Does anyone really want to get someone who is a mass murderer or some idiot that has no idea of safety rules (because they don't speak English and are illiterate in their own language)? While the almighty profit trumps everything with these employers, no matter the safety of their products and respect for their customers.

Why are these ingrates still here??? DEPORT already!