Thread: TX: Immigration raid rumors cause panic

Immigration raid rumors cause panic

Wednesday, March 10, 2010


HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Local immigrant rights activists want to put an end to a rumor they say has caused panic among illegal immigrants.

The activists say they have received hundreds of texts and emails that claim the government is staging immigration raids at local Walmart stores and that Walmart is working with the government in these raids. The activists say these rumors prompted people to stop showing up to work or from taking their children to school.

Cesar Espinosa with Houston's America For All said, "We are saying again, this is just a rumor. We are trying to appease community concerns and tell community to be cautious in forwarding such text messages and or such messages because it may impact the community and it may spread panic throughout the Houston area."

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Walmart say they are not working together to stage immigration raids.

http://oneoldvet.com/

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=7323659

It's true, it's true and the next Walmart to be hit is in my neighborhood.

LOL

Yeah, right. Like ICE and Walmart are going to admit to a raid? Run now while you can. Stay home from your llegal jobs. Keep your illegal kids out of our schools. Gather, pack, gas up and go home where you'll be safe.



Why would ICE say they aren't raiding? It's their job to raid. Even if they weren't planning on one now they should. Look at the power of just a rumor about the raid. The President should announce general raids every day. Take a map ... start calling if off .. raid San Diego, raid South Los Angeles, raid Central Valley, raid San Joaquin Valley, raid North Los Angeles, raid west West Angeles, raid East Los Angeles, raid San Franciso, raid Seattle, raid El Paso, raid Brownsville, raid San Antonio, raid Dallas, raid Forth Worth, raid Phoenix, raid Houston, etc., etc., etc.

Heavy Fines and Felony Jail Time for ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS!!! Remember the ILLEGAL EMPLOYER in Houston and the murder of Police Officer Rodney Johnson by his ILLEGAL EMPLOYEE! Felony Conviction and Deportation for the ILLEGALS!

(5:16 AM CST)

Wal-Mart Raid Rumors Concern Houston Hispanics
David Solano

"This is an issue of human rights. It's an issue of community panic. I think we all know how panic in the community can lead to very dangerous things," said Hector Chavana Jr., who's with the La Raza Justice Movement in Houston.

This dangerous rumor, apparently sent through text messages, began about immigration and customs enforcement activity taking place at Houston-area Wal-Marts. Chavana Jr. is trying to seek witness accounts of immigration raids in the area.

"As far as we can tell, a lot of it is just rumors. The last thing that I'm trying to verify is whether or not there was some I-9 verification going on, which is known as desk raids." Lauda, a long time server at Rosita's Mexican restaurant, says Hispanics are concerned about those desk raids.

"There's a lot of fear within the immigrant community in this country. We've come here looking for new opportunities," she told 39 News. "There's a lot of fear over the messages being sent through text messages on the cell phones."

Lauda says she hasn't seen this text message on a cell phone, but is worried because "the truth is we don't know if it's real or fake. (There's) a lot of fear. So much so that we don't want to go out. For example, we don't want to go to the store they're talking about or where there are a lot of Hispanic people."

Ice released a statement about the Wal-Mart raids on Wednesday, March 10.

"U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) does not comment on its future operations. However, contrary to the reported rumors, ICE has no agreement with Wal-Mart regarding worksite enforcement operations."

Whether this rumor is true or not, the Hispanic community can't help but think about the possibility of having family members pulled apart.

"It's hurtful. They get the Mom and Dad who just left work. Kids are at the house. What's going to happen with those kids? What future will they have?"

39 News received a statement on these immigration text message rumors from Wal-Mart. The company says the "rumors circulating via text message, and other means, about Wal-Mart coordinating or supporting immigration raids in our stores are not true."

Wal-Mart went on to say these rumors are "baseless" and "inaccurate."


http://www.39online.com/news/local/kiah ... 2060.story

Judy wrote:

Why would ICE say they aren't raiding?

Excellent question, Judy. Normally it has be ICE policy not to speak publicly on such matters - or so I've heard (read) repeatedly. Hmmm........guess it all depends on what best suits their agenda.

Does something like the following statement sound familiar?

"We can neither confirm or deny rumors of a future enforcement action."

"U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) does not comment on its future operations. However, contrary to the reported rumors, ICE has no agreement with Wal-Mart regarding worksite enforcement operations."

Originally Posted by MW

Judy wrote:

Why would ICE say they aren't raiding?

Excellent question, Judy. Normally it has be ICE policy not to speak publicly on such matters - or so I've heard (read) repeatedly. Hmmm........guess it all depends on what best suits their agenda.

Does something like the following statement sound familiar?

"We can neither confirm or deny rumors of a future enforcement action."

Exactly! It's totally bizarre that ICE would say anything other than something like you said. Are their traitors in ICE? I understand Walmart saying what they said, because they don't want to lose their business, but for ICE to say that? That's outrageous!!!

And of course the follow-up question to ICE is:

Why aren't you raiding Walmarts every Friday between 3 and 10 pm? There are millions of illegal aliens in Walmart stores cashing their checks, wiring money out of the country and loading up their 2 or 3 huge baskets of products they pay cash for while Americans stand in line with their 20 items or less digging for change out of their purses and pockets to pay for 'em.

Funny, strange, but interesting comment on the "abclocal.go.com ktrk" source article:

"64 mxdaniela 3/11/10 12:28 PM EST

well i'm gonna tell you a little story. there was a new OLIVE GARDEN opening soon and they had most of the positions covered except they needed more waitresses. and point is that they do e-verify so all the people that they were going to hire in the kitchcen were ILEGALS. so now the restaurant won't open for a long time because our people do not want to work in the kitchen or doing salads... or cleaning bathrooms. so why instead of talking ### about this people give them some credit because they work hard for this c..."

WHAT?

Originally Posted by lccat

Funny, strange, but interesting comment on the "abclocal.go.com ktrk" source article:

"64 mxdaniela 3/11/10 12:28 PM EST

well i'm gonna tell you a little story. there was a new OLIVE GARDEN opening soon and they had most of the positions covered except they needed more waitresses. and point is that they do e-verify so all the people that they were going to hire in the kitchcen were ILEGALS. so now the restaurant won't open for a long time because our people do not want to work in the kitchen or doing salads... or cleaning bathrooms. so why instead of talking ### about this people give them some credit because they work hard for this c..."

WHAT?

Of course "our people" meaning the American People will work in the ktichens, do salads and clean the bathrooms. We've been doing that work since the first restaurant opened in the US. That is a confused person who wrote that post. Companies are using E-verify to verify that people working in the kitchen are "ilegals"? Well, that really wouldn't surprise me at all. I guess they want to make sure they're all "ilegals" so none of the kitchen helps snitches to anyone.

Well, I used to like to eat at Olive Garden once in awhile but if they're hiring illegals in the kitchen or anywhere else, scratch them off my list.

Sounds like a good time to visit a Wal-Mart wearing my official:
International
Creative
Enterprise hat......