Thread: Illegal workers face deportation

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... /606070377

Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Illegal workers face deportation

By Paul A. Long
Post staff reporter

In U.S. District Court in Covington on Tuesday, it was seven suspected undocumented immigrants in, and seven confirmed undocumented immigrants out.

With nearly 100 people now charged in an ongoing investigation into the use of illegal immigrants in the Northern Kentucky home-building industry, the wheels of justice continue to grind slowly.

Seven men - six from Mexico, one from El Salvador - each pleaded guilty to a single charge of entering the United States illegally.

Two were released to Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials for deportation. The other five will remain as witnesses in an investigation that seeks to tie the men to local contractors and eventually to Fischer Homes, one of the largest homebuilding companies in the area.

Seven others had their first appearance in court after being arrested Friday on the same charge. The circumstances of those arrests show both that the investigation is not letting up, and it continues to strike fear in the local Latino community.

"It's terrible. It's an awful, awful feeling," said Holly Fuller of Erlanger, Ky., who is engaged to one of the men arrested Friday.

She said people are afraid to go to work, shops and restaurants are shutting down, and the break-up of families is seen as a distinct possibility.

Fuller acknowledged her fiancé, Jose Trinidad-Maldonaldo, entered the United States illegally some six years ago. But she said he thought he was going to get legal working papers the day he was arrested.

She said his boss - Sergio Alejandro Rameriz-Luna - said he could get the legal documents for $3,000. Trinidad-Maldonaldo left work about 2 p.m. Friday, and said he would give her the details when he got home, Fuller said.

But the next time Fuller heard from him was when he called from jail, telling her he had been arrested, she said

"He wanted to do everything correct," she said. "He wants to get his citizenship. He speaks English and everything."

Rameriz-Luna was one of those arrested Friday and in court Tuesday, where he and the other six pleaded not guilty.

Federal prosecutors would not comment on the circumstances of the arrests, although they said it was not a sting operation they set up.

Their two-year investigation broke open on May 12, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided several Fischer Home construction sites, rounding up some 80 undocumented workers.

Most of them face a misdemeanor charge of being in the United States illegally, but nearly two dozen others face charges of harboring the men by providing them jobs and places to live.

Among those charged are four supervisors of Fischer Homes, who authorities also have charged with harboring illegal workers by providing them jobs. The four - Tim Copsy, William Allison, Bill Ring and Doug Witt - have proclaimed their innocence. They are free on bail and back to work.

Fischer Homes executives have denied that the company or any of its employees have done anything wrong.

But federal authorities said Robert Pratt, a contractor who runs several construction companies with other members of his family, worked closely with the Fischer supervisors, and they shared decision-making and work supervision.

Illegal workers face deportation- What do they mean "face" deportation. Why shouldn't they be deported on the spot?

Seven men - six from Mexico, one from El Salvador - each pleaded guilty to a single charge of entering the United States illegally.That's it? What about charges for working illegally, not paying taxes, or using false documents?

"It's terrible. It's an awful, awful feeling," said Holly Fuller of Erlanger, Ky., who is engaged to one of the men arrested Friday.Aiding and Abeting an illegal alien. What a sweet love story.

She said people are afraid to go to work, shops and restaurants are shutting down, and the break-up of families is seen as a distinct possibility.Good. They should be afraid. Don't come here illegally and you have nothing to fear.

Fuller acknowledged her fiancé, Jose Trinidad-Maldonaldo, entered the United States illegally some six years ago. But she said he thought he was going to get legal working papers the day he was arrested.How? Buy fake ones?
"He wanted to do everything correct," she said. "He wants to get his citizenship. He speaks English and everything." Then he shouldn't have come here illegaly. If I learn spanish do I get mexican citizenship? He already has "his" citizenship which is mexican.

Originally Posted by Brian503a

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060607/NEWS01/606070377

Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Illegal workers face deportation

By Paul A. Long
Post staff reporter

"It's terrible. It's an awful, awful feeling," said Holly Fuller of Erlanger, Ky., who is engaged to one of the men arrested Friday.

She said people are afraid to go to work, shops and restaurants are shutting down, and the break-up of families is seen as a distinct possibility.

Too bad!! There are consequences that must be paid for illegal behavior!!

"It's terrible. It's an awful, awful feeling," said Holly Fuller of Erlanger, Ky., who is engaged to one of the men arrested Friday.

IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT SHAM SHAM SHAM

What in the heck. I guess you will marry him to keep him in the country.

Dixie

Their two-year investigation broke open on May 12, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided several Fischer Home construction sites, rounding up some 80 undocumented workers.

With the exception of the five being held to testify, were the other 75 deported?