Thread: Ex-agent: Checks shirked on illegal

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=75487

Ex-agent: Checks shirked on illegal
By Mike Sakal, Tribune
October 1, 2006
Methods that could have prevented an illegal immigrant from Mexico from working at a Scottsdale school where he is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl went unchecked, an immigration expert says.

While it’s nearly impossible to do comprehensive criminal background checks on private company employees contracting with the government, there are federal and private programs available that would have revealed that Roberto Lemus-Retana was an illegal immigrant before he began working at Saguaro High School, said a retired special agent from the former Immigration and Naturalization Services.

“This is an eye-opener,” said Neville Cramer, a Scottsdale resident who retired after working for INS and the U.S. Border Patrol for 26 years.

“Scottsdale schools has put our children at risk by not hiring its own janitors and conducting better background checks,” Cramer said. “What makes this case so tragic is that two programs are available . . . that can easily prevent illegal aliens from being employed.”

Lemus-Retana, 26, of Phoenix, an ABM Janitorial Services custodian, is charged in the sexual assault of the student inside a campus building on Aug. 25. He faces seven felony counts of sexual assaultrelated offenses, and is being held in the Maricopa County’s Fourth Avenue Jail without bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Lemus-Retana on Oct. 19 in county Superior Court, his initial court appearance in a case that has caught the attention of the national media and organizations who oppose illegal immigration.

Since 1996, private companies and public entities such as school districts have been eligible to register with Basic Pilot, under the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. Basic Pilot is a voluntary registry system that verifies immigration status, Social Security numbers and determines work eligibility of applicants.

Its database of immigrants and nonimmigrants from other countries uses identification and admission numbers that go back to the early 20th century, said Chris Bentley, a spokesman for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

There are 11,218 employers participating in the free program nationwide and 269 employers in Arizona are registered with Basic Pilot. ABM Janitorial Services and the Scottsdale Unified School District are not registered, Bentley said.

David Peterson, district chief of finance and facilities, said school officials were aware of the program. A thirdparty contractor, Universal Background Screening, was able to run state criminal background checks for the district after Lemus-Retana was arrested, he said, but it could not check citizenship and work eligibility because a federal I-9 form used to do so was not given to the district by ABM.

The district contracted with ABM for six years, and it was scheduled to pay it $2.5 million this year, according to district information. The exact number of custodians working in Scottsdale schools seemed to be unclear to the district soon after the incident.

Originally, the district claimed it had 130 ABM workers. Later, the district revised that number to 92 ABM employees — a number the company agrees is accurate.

The district provided the Tribune with 73 fingerprint identification sheets that reveal those workers’ countries of origin. Of those, 71 are Mexican nationals, one is from Guatemala and the other is a Honduran.

School officials have said they don’t know the work or immigration status of those employees, and the district didn’t have a list of names of ABM workers at each campus. They have maintained that it was ABM’s responsibility to have checked to make sure workers had the all the required paperwork to be employed.

The district severed its contract with ABM in September and is considering contracting with Bonded Contract Cleaning of Glendale, which would start later this month.

After Lemus-Retana was arrested, the district requested ABM to release the complete files of employees working on school property, including I-9 forms, but ABM didn’t provide the forms, said Kim Clark, school district attorney.

ABM has maintained Lemus-Retana provided all the necessary paperwork and there was nothing the company could have done to prevent him from working in Scottsdale schools. ABM told the district it does have the I-9 forms, Clark said.

Under federal law, applicants are required to complete an I-9 form. An I-9 form is comparable to a basic job application, and provides specific information to verify work eligibility in the United States, such as a Social Security number, an alien identification number or admission number when one enters the country.

“Ninety percent of employers don’t check to see if these numbers match,” Cramer said.

If an applicant provides false information or documentation on the I-9 form, they are subject to imprisonment. Form I-9 Compliance, a private company in Newport Beach, Calif., that opened this summer, also verifies information on an applicant in a matter of seconds, Cramer said.

Attorney Craig Knapp, representing the girl accusing Lemus-Retana of sexual assault, also said he is preparing to file a notice of claim against the district, a precursor to a lawsuit.

At issue will be which party was liable, Clark said.

Anyone can easily purchase counterfeit identification in Mexico, at flea markets or on street corners to acquire jobs, Cramer said.

Russel Ahr, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, suspects Lemus-Retana used counterfeit paperwork to get hired by ABM.

Lemus-Retana, a native of Durango, Mexico, has lived in the United States since he was 12 years old, according to his attorney, Jose Montano. Lemus-Retana also had worked in the detailing department of a Toyota dealership in Arizona for seven years and for a landscaping company, according to Montano.

San Francisco-based ABM has retained an attorney in Arizona.

“There was not a clue or one indicator for believing this individual (Lemus-Retana) would be capable of this horrific act, as alleged,” attorney Michael Poli said. “Obviously, ABM is very sorry something like this happened.”
Contact Mike Sakal by telephone at (480) 970-2324.

Originally, the district claimed it had 130 ABM workers. Later, the district revised that number to 92 ABM employees — a number the company agrees is accurate.

The district provided the Tribune with 73 fingerprint identification sheets that reveal those workers’ countries of origin. Of those, 71 are Mexican nationals, one is from Guatemala and the other is a Honduran.

ABM really BIG business. This is from ABM's website and has a lot of information about all of the businesses they service to include airports, hospitals, banks, government facilities etc.



http://www.abm.com/ilwwcm/connect/ABM/Home/About+ABM/

ABM Industries Incorporated is one of the largest facility services contractors listed on the New York Stock Exchange. With fiscal 2005 revenues in excess of $2.5 billion and more than 73,000 employees, ABM provides janitorial, parking, engineering, security, lighting and mechanical services for thousands of commercial, industrial, institutional, and retail facilities in hundreds of cities across the United States and British Columbia, Canada. The ABM Family of Services includes ABM Janitorial, Ampco System Parking, ABM Engineering, American Commercial Security (ACSS), Security Services of America (SSA), Amtech Lighting, and ABM Facility Services.

Founded in 1909 as a one-man window washing business, ABM has grown to become a leader in outsourced facility maintenance and operations services in the United States. This stature is based on the number of ABM employees, the range of services we perform, and geographical infrastructure in maintenance and operations.

Of particular interest to both potential customers and investors is ABM’s ability to provide multiple services through our many companies. Most of the individual companies that make up ABM are among the leaders in their respective fields and are capable of both independent growth as well as growth through acquisitions. In addition, ABM spurs growth in other ways:

ABM Family of Services - service bundling under individual contracts, and


ABM Facility Services - integrated services under a single, comprehensive service management contract.
These capabilities, combined with a national operational infrastructure and ABM’s formidable financial strength, position the company to service customers on a local, regional or national basis.



http://www.abm.com/ilwwcm/connect/ABM/H ... /Companies
Companies


ABM Janitorial Services specializes in highly customized janitorial services for commercial, industrial, institutional and retail facilities.

Ampco System Parking is an industry leader in the management and operation of parking facilities, operating over 1,700 parking lots and garages.

ABM Engineering Services is a large provider of operating engineering management services nationwide for myriad markets; from class A office properties to shopping malls and technology centers.

ABM Security Services, operating as American Commercial Security Services (ACSS) and Security Services of America (SSA), provides custom security programs to high-rise office markets, as well as technology, manufacturing, logistics and industrial clients.

Amtech Lighting Services is the nation's leading lighting management company, providing one-stop service for interior and exterior lighting maintenance, including signs and electrical repairs.

ABM Facility Services delivers a unique combination of best-in-class maintenance services, support resources, and management talent for a variety of properties and clients, all under a single contract, thus resulting in reduced cost & increased efficiency.




Press Releases
http://www.abm.com/ilwwcm/connect/ABM/H ... /Companies

http://www.abm.com/ilwwcm/connect/ABM/H ... Government

One of interest from the list.

Municipalities / Public Schools / Libraries / Courthouses / Federal Government Agencies / Military
The diversity of experience demonstrated by ABM’s companies in both trade categories and facility types make it an ideal partner for local, state and federal government agencies of all types. The history of ABM is rich with government partnerships, ranging from basic building maintenance, contribution to the war effort during World War II, cleaning thousands of Navy ships docked at West Coast ports, and assisting in the construction of the “Buffalo”, utilized in Pacific island hopping campaigns. In one of the largest facility services contracts ever, ABM served the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey with over 800 managers, supervisors, call center operators, technicians, cleaners, engineers, electricians, carpenters, lighting technicians and other trade associates at the World Trade Center in New York City. There is no job that is too complex for us and no complex that is too big a job for us.

NOTE: ABM Industries, Incorporated maintains two General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule Contracts to provide turnkey maintenance and management services, as well as security and guard services to the Federal Government.

Company Profile: ABM Janitorial Services brings the ideal service solution to American government at all levels. Its parent company, ABM Industries Incorporated, is a New York Stock Exchange listed Fortune 1000 company with extensive experience in a wide range of facilities types. We offer the distinct advantage of a General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule Contract . Visit our Federal Government web site or visit the ABM Janitorial Services web site.

Company Profile: ABM Engineering Services is a leading provider of onsite technical maintenance personnel and full service facility solutions to the government sector. We know how to design and maintain systems for public use facilities and data centers. ABM Engineering Services can help reduce operating expenses through our electronic accounting consolidation, web-based management tools, contract management, national purchasing program and a 24-hour customer service call center. As an EnergyStar® partner, we can help you cut energy costs. Additionally, we can assist you in establishing a standardized safety program, in becoming ISO certified, and in developing a diversity supplier program. Visit the ABM Engineering Services home page.

Company Profile: ABM Security Services provides the level of training, management and devotion necessary to service today’s world of heightened security concerns. We offer the distinct advantage of a General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule Contract. See above and visit our Federal Government web site. Or visit the ABM Janitorial Services web site.

Company Profile: ABM Facility Services is the leading provider of facility maintenance solutions to public and private facilities across the country. We reduce operating expenses by reducing utility costs, leveraging our self-performed services with our national volume purchasing of goods and services, and advising you on staffing and compensation. With our 24-hour national service center, web-based preventive maintenance and work management technologies, we are able to implement industry best practices. We take the challenges out of establishing a safety program for your properties. Most important of all, we know that the reliability of your facilities affects your business, so we guarantee results. Visit the ABM Facility Services home page.


Click here to website for all businesses served.
http://www.abm.com/ilwwcm/connect/ABM/H ... +We+Serve/



I was interested in this one
http://www.abm.com/ilwwcm/connect/ABM/H ... Government
Government

Municipalities / Public Schools / Libraries / Courthouses / Federal Government Agencies / Military
The diversity of experience demonstrated by ABM’s companies in both trade categories and facility types make it an ideal partner for local, state and federal government agencies of all types. The history of ABM is rich with government partnerships, ranging from basic building maintenance, contribution to the war effort during World War II, cleaning thousands of Navy ships docked at West Coast ports, and assisting in the construction of the “Buffalo”, utilized in Pacific island hopping campaigns. In one of the largest facility services contracts ever, ABM served the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey with over 800 managers, supervisors, call center operators, technicians, cleaners, engineers, electricians, carpenters, lighting technicians and other trade associates at the World Trade Center in New York City. There is no job that is too complex for us and no complex that is too big a job for us.

NOTE: ABM Industries, Incorporated maintains two General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule Contracts to provide turnkey maintenance and management services, as well as security and guard services to the Federal Government.

Company Profile: ABM Janitorial Services brings the ideal service solution to American government at all levels. Its parent company, ABM Industries Incorporated, is a New York Stock Exchange listed Fortune 1000 company with extensive experience in a wide range of facilities types. We offer the distinct advantage of a General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule Contract . Visit our Federal Government web site or visit the ABM Janitorial Services web site.

Company Profile: ABM Engineering Services is a leading provider of onsite technical maintenance personnel and full service facility solutions to the government sector. We know how to design and maintain systems for public use facilities and data centers. ABM Engineering Services can help reduce operating expenses through our electronic accounting consolidation, web-based management tools, contract management, national purchasing program and a 24-hour customer service call center. As an EnergyStar® partner, we can help you cut energy costs. Additionally, we can assist you in establishing a standardized safety program, in becoming ISO certified, and in developing a diversity supplier program. Visit the ABM Engineering Services home page.

Company Profile: ABM Security Services provides the level of training, management and devotion necessary to service today’s world of heightened security concerns. We offer the distinct advantage of a General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule Contract. See above and visit our Federal Government web site. Or visit the ABM Janitorial Services web site.

Company Profile: ABM Facility Services is the leading provider of facility maintenance solutions to public and private facilities across the country. We reduce operating expenses by reducing utility costs, leveraging our self-performed services with our national volume purchasing of goods and services, and advising you on staffing and compensation. With our 24-hour national service center, web-based preventive maintenance and work management technologies, we are able to implement industry best practices. We take the challenges out of establishing a safety program for your properties. Most important of all, we know that the reliability of your facilities affects your business, so we guarantee results. Visit the ABM Facility Services home page.

BTT

This does not surprise me as the fake IDs some of the illegals get are fairly good quality and you have to really look very carefully at it to find discrepancies. Many times when purses and wallets get stolen, the thief only takes the cash and sells the ID to illegals. In my are there are many legal Hispanics so they target them and sell their ID and the buyer assumes that person's identity. Post September 11th it takes the person who lost their ID a lot lnoger to get it back. It is hell as you need ID to get your driver's license, a new SSN, and any other lost ID. This is good for homeland security but real winfall for illegals.

Well, very sorry just doesn't get it if it is your daughter or the girl this happened to!