Thread: Boo Hoo: NY Times on "Frightened" Illegal Immigran

http://newsbusters.org/node/9727

Boo Hoo: NY Times on "Frightened" Illegal Immigrants in Hiding After Raids
Posted by Clay Waters on December 18, 2006 - 20:38.

The New York Times' "Immigrants' Families Figuring Out What to Do After Federal Raids" clearly sees illegal immigrants as sympathetic victims, putting the wet-eyed focus not on the criminal acts that resulted in the raids by immigration authorities, but how the raids have made immigrants afraid to venture out in public.

Julie Preston's Saturday story is set off with a four-day-old AP photo of a weeping mother who "held her 3-month-old son on Tuesday as her husband was held at a Swift meat plant in Greeley, Colo."

The text box advances the theme of illegal immigrants as cowering victims: "'Many people are still very frightened,' and dozens of immigrants are said to be hiding."

The actual story is no less slanted, barely brushing up against the primary reason for the raids:

"Immigrant families scrambled yesterday to find detained relatives, arrange care for children of deported parents and recover from the loss of work as a result of raids this week by immigration authorities at meat-packing plants in six states.

"The raids, part of a federal operation against identity theft, had stunning effects on the surrounding towns, residents said. In all, 1,282 legal and illegal immigrants were arrested, and in most cases the plants, all operated by Swift & Company of Greeley, Colo., were the largest employer around.

"'Many people are still very frightened,' Mayor Luis Aguilar of Cactus, Tex., said.

"In Cactus, 275 employees were arrested.

"In Worthington, Minn., with 230 arrests, residents said dozens of immigrants had gone into hiding.

"'I’ve never seen anything like it, the sadness, the emptiness, the fear,' a schoolteacher, Barbara Kremer, said. Ms. Kremer said she had provided shelter in her house since the raid for 24 immigrants who were afraid to return to their homes.

"The raids, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, netted dozens of immigrants who were legal residents but did not have their papers with them at work. Others arrested were illegal who have to leave the country or face deportation."

The generally business-unfriendly Times shows a strange and sudden solicitude for a corporate executive, letting Swift CEO Sam Rovit discuss the burden the raid will put on his business:

"Mr. Rovit said Swift, third largest meatpacker in the nation, paid good wages by industry standards, twice the minimum wage, with health benefits. With tight profit margins, he added, Swift would be hard-pressed to replace the workers for work, which is demanding and has historically attracted immigrants, including immigrants without proper documents."

Take away the Times-speak, and "immigrants without proper documents" appears to translate as "illegal immigrants."

The Times doesn't talk to any victims of identity theft who may have a less sympathetic view of immigrants "without proper documents."

May I back this with my.... BOO FREAKING HOO!

It must be a slow news day for the New York Times.

uh huh NINE dollars an hour is double the minimum wage

what liars

Yep james ... Americans would be lining up in droves in my town for $9 an hour 40 hour a week jobs with or without benefits. But Swift has excellent benefits so Americans would be driving in from other counties for these jobs.

Originally Posted by Judy

Yep james ... Americans would be lining up in droves in my town for $9 an hour 40 hour a week jobs with or without benefits. But Swift has excellent benefits so Americans would be driving in from other counties for these jobs.

Yes very true!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/16/washi ... ref=slogin

Link to story in the New York Times paper itself

If you can get the article on the new york times websight, click Ms Preston's name and you can send an email too


Ms. Preston.
In regard to your article on the raids at Swift and the picture that is posted with your article. I have to ask why the Times is showing sympathy for people in the United States illegally. This country is about laws and we as Americans have laws to follow. These people at the swift plants do not care about the laws of the US for they have broken FOUR of them already.
1. Entering the US at a location that has no port of entry or has no border patrol checkpoint.
2. Possession of forged
3. Using the identity of citizens of the USA
4. Fraudently obtaining work using forged documents.

I am sick and tired of the people who were arrested, detained, deported being played as the victims here. They are not victims. They are lawbreakers. The victims are people who have had their ID stolen and used to obtain work. These Americans have been denied benefits because their name and social security numbers show they are working in other states. There is a woman in Dallas whos ID was stolen and two workers at the plant in Greeley Colorado were using her name and SS#. She found out because instead of getting her IRS refund, she got a letter from the IRS claiming she did NOT report salary while working in Greeley and had to prove her innocence before the IRS did anything. Another lady in western Colorado was denied her SS check because they said she was working in Denver and made $35,000. Now while I do feel for the kids, cuz they are the innocent ones in this, i can not feel sorry for the parents of the kids who put these kids in this predicament knowing they were illegal. If their parents are deported then the kids can go with the parents back to their home country.

As an American, i should not have to listen to Mexicans like at the May 1 rallies where they said we have to adjust to them and this is their land and they are here to take it back. I also should not have to listen to them tell me they hate America and the US. if they hate it why are they here? I hate being an American and knowing that these illegals are using our hospitals for free health care, our schools for free education and meals, using welfare, food stamps and tell me I am a racist if I want the laws of my country enforced..
If you take a poll and ask people "do you have a problem with people coming to America as long as they come legally and with the proper papers" im sure the over whelming reply would be NO.
Now if you ask "do you like it when illegals come here and demand the same services that normal every day american citizens are entitled too?" the answer would be NO.

So instead of doing an article where you claim the "victims" are those arrested... i have two words for ya "bull shit" The REAL and TRUE victims are those who had thier identity stolen.

PRINT that and do research on the identity theft. I can give you links to two stories that have been made known to me about people having their identity stolen. Why does your paper not print that side of the ICE raids at Swift last week???

ALL i ask is that your paper be fair in its reports on this topic instead of being all one sided

"Immigrants' Families Figuring Out What to Do After Federal Raids"

Step one: Pack bag

Step Two: Leave country, taking all other illegal relatives with you