Thread: Utah construction contractor charged in ICE probe

Utah construction contractor charged in ICE probe with illegal alien smuggling
Friday, 28 December 2007

22 of firm's employees arrested on immigration violations in related enforcement action

Utah construction contractor charged in ICE probe with smuggling
22 of firm's employees arrested on immigration violations in related enforcement action

SALT LAKE CITY - An Orem, Utah construction contractor faces federal criminal charges as part of an alleged scheme to bring illegal aliens into the United States and require them to work for his business to pay off their smuggling debts.

Jose Hernan Moreno, 40, a Peruvian national who owns MJH Construction, was charged last week with one count of alien smuggling and one count of harboring illegal aliens. Moreno's brother-in-law, Alejandro M. Meza, 42, was also charged with harboring illegal aliens. According to court documents filed in the case, the two men allegedly housed the aliens in various residences they own in Utah County.

Moreno and Meza were initially taken into custody December 18 on administrative immigration violations after ICE agents executed search warrants at three residences owned by Moreno and his relatives. In addition to Moreno and Meza, ICE agents arrested 22 Peruvian and Mexican nationals at those homes who were found to be in the country illegally. The aliens, who were employed by Moreno's construction company, have been processed for removal from the United States, and will be subject to further interviews as the criminal investigation continues. Three days later, based upon evidence gathered by ICE, the U.S. Attorney's Office filed a criminal complaint charging Moreno and Meza with alien smuggling and harboring. The two men have been turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.

According to an affidavit filed in connection with the case, one of the illegal alien workers told ICE agents that while in Peru, he borrowed $2,500 from Moreno's parents to buy a Mexican visa so that he could illegally enter the United States through Mexico. Once he arrived in the United States, Moreno's parents allegedly told him he would be provided work and a place to live. In July 2005, the alien stated that he and two uncles arrived in Phoenix, where they were met by Moreno. For a fee of $1,500 each, Moreno allegedly transported the aliens to homes he and his relatives owned in Orem. After arriving there, the alien alleged he was not permitted to speak to his parents in Peru without being monitored, and that Moreno took his passport and vaguely threatened him with deportation. Another one of the Moreno's workers told agents he earned $9,500 after working a year of 12 to 14-hour days for Moreno, but ended up receiving only $1,000 after paying off his debts to Moreno and his family.

ICE has dramatically enhanced its efforts to combat the unlawful employment of illegal aliens in the United States. The agency's strategy for effective worksite enforcement is aimed at promoting national security, protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring fair labor standards. During fiscal year 2007, ICE worksite investigations resulted in 863 arrests on criminal charges and 4,077 administrative arrests for immigration violations.
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases ... kecity.htm

This ones making the news all over big time

border fire report

Why is there no mention of the houses owned by this family being confiscated along with their vehicles, and any other assets such as bank accounts, being seized to pay for the cost of the investigation and any jail/prison costs, and the deportation? When vehicles are used for drug activity at the border in AZ, they are seized by Border Patrol. The houses were being used to house illegals, they were probably built by illegals, from profits made by illegals, and the vehicles were probably used to transport the illegals. Sell their stuff to pay back the state. Their illegal family members, including grandma, mothers, anchor babies and illegal kids shouldn't be allowed to live there or sell the property. When they're all homeless and the men and the booming business are gone, they'll go back to where they came from too. They should leave as broke as they arrived, otherwise they'll be back with another new identity.