Thread: MA-Immigration agents detain 9 in Foxboro sting

Immigration agents detain 9 in Foxboro sting

Wednesday, January 6, 2010 - Added 3h ago



(7) Comments

FOXBORO— Federal agents have detained nine immigrants and ordered 49 others to report to federal immigration authorities after what is being called a "target operation."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokewoman Paula Grenier said the operation Wednesday consisted road stops in Foxboro aimed at finding fugitives who had been previously ordered deported.

Grenier said of the nine people detained, five had been previously deported but reentered the country illegally. She said their cases will be sent to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for possible federal prosecution. Each could face a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Eva A. Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrants & Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said she was concerned about how the Foxboro road stops were conducted


http://www.bostonherald.com/news/region ... 2&srvc=rss

9 detained in immigrant investigation
49 others are told to report back
By Maria Sacchetti
Globe Staff / January 7, 2010

Federal immigration officials pulled over four vans yesterday morning in Foxborough, detained nine immigrants, and ordered 49 more who were stopped to report to federal authorities to determine whether they are here legally.

The arrests were the result of a routine Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation seeking specific fugitives who have been ordered deported, agency spokeswoman Paula Grenier said. But the action drew swift rebuke from advocates for immigrants, who questioned why authorities ordered 49 others to report back if they were not the original targets.

Grenier said the agency’s priority is cracking down on crime and terrorism, but acknowledged that when the agency’s fugitive operations team encounters possible illegal immigrants in the field, they can detain them.

“When we conduct fugitive operations, we often encounter other aliens,’’ Grenier said. “We are responsible for enforcing the immigration and customs laws that are on the books.’’

Eva Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said broadening the operation to include immigrants who were not initially targeted provokes fear in the immigrant community and raises questions about whether racial profiling was involved.

“Why this large number of people?’’ Millona asked. “We understand those who are targeted, and that’s why they’re in custody. But what about this other large number of people who were told to return? We’re concerned about how this has been conducted.’’

Two of the nine immigrants detained yesterday are fugitives with a criminal history and are being held for deportation, Grenier said. Five who illegally reentered the country will be referred to the US attorney’s office for criminal prosecution. The remaining two detainees were still being interviewed last night, and their status was unclear.

The immigration agency declined to release the detainees’ names or their individual criminal histories, citing the agency’s privacy policy. However, Grenier said the detainees’ collective legal violations include domestic assault, obstructing a police officer, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, driving while intoxicated, and other driving offenses.

It is also unknown when the 49 people who were stopped and released will have to report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They were not arrested, Grenier said.


http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... stigation/

Massachusetts: Immigrant Arrests
By JULIA PRESTON
Published: January 7, 2010

Federal immigration agents stopped 58 immigrants in Foxborough, southwest of Boston, in an operation they said was to capture fugitives with criminal records. Of the immigrants, who were traveling in four vans, nine were arrested as criminal suspects and 49 were released but ordered to report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for questioning, a spokesman for the agency said. Most of the immigrants were janitorial workers, many from Guatemala, who were on their way to clean the parking lot of Gillette Stadium, a lawyer for the Guatemalan Consulate said.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/us/07 ... ss&emc=rss

Immigrants in Foxborough stop were headed to shovel snow for Patriots game
Comments (130) January 7, 2010 09:54 PM
By Maria Sacchetti

Dozens of immigrants pulled over Wednesday in Foxborough during a federal search for fugitives from deportation were on their way to Gillette Stadium to shovel snow before this weekend's New England Patriots playoff game, Guatemala's consul in Rhode Island said today.

The federal operation, possibly the largest involving Guatemalan nationals since the 2007 raid on a leather-goods factory in New Bedford, raises questions about the legal status of temporary workers at one of the state's premier sports complexes, and about the responsibility of companies that hire subcontractors to verify the legal status of their employees.

Stacey James, spokesman for Gillette Stadium and the Patriots, said the stadium hired a contractor to clear the snow from the stands, walkways, and field in preparation for Sunday's big game, and he asserted that company is responsible for making sure that all its workers are here legally.

"We go through a vendor and pay for a workforce to provide a service," he said. "We expect them to vet all employees."

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement would not confirm that the workers were headed to Gillette Stadium. James said he learned about the federal operation from the media, and said stadium officials contacted the snow-clearing contractor to reaffirm that Gillette expects all workers to be here legally, he said.

He said workers showed up Wednesday and cleared the snow, and he did not know whether they were among those who were stopped and quickly released during the federal action. James declined to name the contractor.

Joe Ureneck, cochairman of Massachusetts Citizens for Immigration Reform, which favors stricter controls on immigration, said Gillette Stadium should ensure that its contractors’ workers are here legally.

"The buck has to stop somewhere," he said. "It would make sense for those who are paying the bills, i.e. Gillette, to use some kind of verification program for their third-party contractors."

Wednesday's road stop was part of a routine Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation seeking specific fugitives who had been ordered deported, including some with criminal records that included domestic violence and driving while intoxicated, said agency spokeswoman Paula Grenier.

Nine men from Guatemala living in Rhode Island were detained and are facing deportation. Seven of them are still being held at Bristol County jail. Five who illegally reentered the country after having been deported are being referred to the US attorney's office for criminal prosecution.

Federal officials did not release the names of the detainees, citing the department's privacy policy.

But 49 other people, most of whom are believed to be from Guatemala, were also questioned and released on orders to report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the future to determine whether they are here legally.

Carlos Escobedo, Guatemala's consul general in the region, said immigrants caught up in Wednesday's road stop, who are now flooding the consulate with calls for help, appear to be ordinary workers, not criminals. He said he is helping them find legal assistance to determine whether they have the right to stay in the United States.
He said the consulate has not seen such a large enforcement action since the 2007 raid on a factory in New Bedford, which led to 361 arrests. Many of those detained were from Guatemala.

"It's a big number," said Escobedo, who is based in Rhode Island. "It's a number we haven't seen since New Bedford. We're going to help them."

Wednesday's operation ignited criticism among advocates for immigrants, who said it went beyond the search for specific fugitives.

Grenier said the agency's top concern is fighting crime and terrorism, but that agents who encounter possible illegal immigrants in the field are authorized to detain them.

Today, advocates for immigrants said the operation underscored the need for immigration laws to be changed to allow the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants to apply for legal status.

Many fled poverty in their homelands to seek a better life in the United States, they said. In Guatemala, almost half of the country lives on less than $2 a day, and the country's infant mortality and illiteracy rates are also among the worst in the hemisphere, according to the US State Department and the World Bank.

"It shows how the immigration system really needs to be fixed," said Franklin Soults, spokesman for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. "Right now there's a two-tier economy happening and people are working in the shadows. What we need is not an attempt to sweep up 12 million people. ... It can't be done."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaki ... _in_f.html

There are 140 comments left after the last article posted above.

Added to the Homepage with slightly amended title:
http://www.alipac.us/article-4823--0-0.html

Just great! This is my neck of the woods, They let most of them go so they can report later to find out if they can stay......Ah OK.

Patriots vow crackdown on immigrants
BY RICK FOSTER Friday, January 8, 2010 11:03 AM EST


FOXBORO - An incident in which dozens of immigrants were pulled over on their way to clear snow at Gillette Stadium will be thoroughly reviewed with a contractor who provided the workers, a New England Patriots official said.

"You can bet that the contractor has heard about this loud and clear," said Stacey James, a spokesman for the NFL team.

Vans containing dozens of the workers were stopped Wednesday en route to the stadium to remove snow from the stands, field and walkways prior to Sunday's scheduled playoff game according to a Guatemalan government official. Most were quickly released but nine others were detained by immigration officials for being in the U.S. illegally.

James said contractors the team uses to provide temporary help are responsible for vetting the status of workers they supply.

"We require companies we use to abide by all laws," he said. James said a number of workers arrived Wednesday to conduct snow removal tasks, but he does not know whether they were among the immigrants who were stopped by immigration. James said he did not know the name of the contractor.

Snow removal work was completed, Stacey said.

A total of 49 workers who ended up being released were told to report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine whether they are in the country legally.

Carlos Escobedo, Guatemala's consul general in the region, says immigrants caught in Wednesday's stop appear to be ordinary workers, not criminals, and he's helping them find legal assistance to determine if they can stay in the country.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would not confirm that the workers were headed to Gillette Stadium.



http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles ... 743056.txt

Detained immigrants were set to clear Gillette snow
By Maria Sacchetti
January 8, 2010

COMMENTS (344)


Dozens of immigrants pulled over Wednesday in Foxborough during a federal search for fugitives from deportation were on their way to Gillette Stadium to shovel snow before this weekend’s New England Patriots playoff game, Guatemala’s consul in Rhode Island said yesterday.



The federal operation, possibly the largest involving Guatemalan nationals since the 2007 raid on a leather-goods factory in New Bedford, raises questions about the legal status of temporary workers at one of the state’s premier sports complexes, and about the responsibility of companies that hire subcontractors to verify the legal status of their employees.

Stacey James, spokesman for Gillette Stadium and the Patriots, said the stadium hired a contractor to clear the snow from the stands, walkways, and field in preparation for Sunday’s big game, and he asserted that company is responsible for making sure that all its workers are here legally.

“We go through a vendor and pay for a workforce to provide a service,’’ he said. “We expect them to vet all employees.’’

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement would not confirm that the workers were headed to Gillette Stadium. James said he learned about the federal operation from the media, and said stadium officials contacted the snow-clearing contractor to reaffirm that Gillette expects all workers to be here legally, he said.

He said workers showed up Wednesday and cleared the snow, and he did not know whether they were among those who were stopped and quickly released during the federal action. James declined to name the contractor.

Joe Ureneck, cochairman of Massachusetts Citizens for Immigration Reform, which favors stricter controls on immigration, said Gillette Stadium should ensure that its contractors’ workers are here legally.

“The buck has to stop somewhere,’’ he said. “It would make sense for those who are paying the bills, i.e. Gillette, to use some kind of verification program for their third-party contractors.’’

Wednesday’s road stop was part of a routine Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation seeking specific fugitives who had been ordered deported, including some with criminal records that included domestic violence and driving while intoxicated, said agency spokeswoman Paula Grenier.

Nine men from Guatemala living in Rhode Island were detained and are facing deportation. Seven of them are still being held at Bristol County jail. Five who illegally reentered the country after having been deported are being referred to the US attorney’s office for criminal prosecution.

Federal officials did not release the names of the detainees, citing the department’s privacy policy.

But 49 other people, most of whom are believed to be from Guatemala, were also questioned and released on orders to report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the future to determine whether they are here legally.

Carlos Escobedo, Guatemala’s consul general in the region, said immigrants caught up in Wednesday’s road stop, who are now flooding the consulate with calls for help, appear to be ordinary workers, not criminals. He said he is helping them find legal assistance to determine whether they have the right to stay in the United States.

He said the consulate has not seen such a large enforcement action since the 2007 raid on a factory in New Bedford, which led to 361 arrests. Many of those detained were from Guatemala.

“It’s a big number,’’ said Escobedo, who is based in Rhode Island. “It’s a number we haven’t seen since New Bedford. We’re going to help them.’’

Wednesday’s operation ignited criticism among advocates for immigrants, who said it went beyond the search for specific fugitives.

Grenier said the agency’s top concern is fighting crime and terrorism, but that agents who encounter possible illegal immigrants in the field are authorized to detain them.

Yesterday, advocates for immigrants said the operation underscored the need for immigration laws to be changed to allow the nation’s 12 million illegal immigrants to apply for legal status.

Many fled poverty in their homelands to seek a better life in the United States, they said.

“It shows how the immigration system really needs to be fixed,’’ said Franklin Soults, spokesman for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. “Right now there’s a two-tier economy happening and people are working in the shadows. What we need is not an attempt to sweep up 12 million people. . . . It can’t be done.’’

Maria Sacchetti can be reached at msacchetti@globe.com

http://tinyurl.com/y9dg6qj

Isn't a football stadium the perfect place for a terrorist to work? You could harm a whole lot of people and get paid to do it.

Dixie

Originally Posted by Dixie

Isn't a football stadium the perfect place for a terrorist to work? You could harm a whole lot of people and get paid to do it.

Dixie

You're not the only one concerned about this Dixie.

Immigrant detentions raise safety concerns

By Meghan Irons, Globe Staff | January 9, 2010

The detention of dozens of immigrants on their way to a temporary job at Gillette Stadium this week has touched off a firestorm in Foxborough, as town officials raised safety concerns for tomorrow’s playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens.

Paul Feeney, who chairs the town’s Board of Selectmen, sent a memo yesterday to Town Manager Andrew Gala in which he cited “potential security problems’’ for the game.

He demanded answers about the immigrant workers’ identities, legal status, and criminal records, questioning whether any of those apprehended were on a terror watch list.

“My ultimate concern is that no one knows the true identity of various workers that have been hired to perform work in Gillette Stadium, which by its nature is also at risk of potential coordinated attacks and terrorist activities,’’ he wrote.

A spokesman for Gillette Stadium said the Boston-area vendor responsible for hiring the workers was terminated after the incident. Any vendor hired, said the spokesman, Stacey James,, is required to ensure its employees can legally work at the stadium.

“They are expected to follow the law,’’ said James, who did not name the vendor.

In an interview yesterday afternoon, Feeney said he is awaiting answers from Gala and Police Chief Edward T. O’Leary.

“There are too many questions that I need answered before I can determine whether or not a problem exist for this Sunday,’’ he said.

Gala could not be reached for comment.

Foxborough police and Gillette Stadium officials insisted that the games are safe and that every worker and fan is patted down before setting foot in the stadium. Bags are also searched.

James said every worker who enters the facility is under stadium supervision during the time he or she is there. And, he said, “before every event there is a complete sweep of the stadium by State Police and stadium police. ’’

“The safety of our fans is al ways our highest priority,’’ said James.

O’Leary said Foxborough and Gillette Stadium officials have “a consistent program to ensure the safety of [the] fans’’ attending events at the stadium. He would not say what, if any, extra measures his officers will take tomorrow.

“I know that people who are working for the stadium are screened as closely as the fans,’’ said O’Leary.

In a search for fugitives from deportation, agents from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency pulled over dozens of immigrants in Foxborough who were apparently on their way to shovel snow at Gillette.

ICE officials have not confirmed that the workers were working at the stadium, but Guatemala’s consul in Rhode Island told the Globe they were en route there to shovel snow.

The road stop put Gillette Stadium in the spotlight, with questions over the legal status of temporary employees at the complex and about the responsibility of companies that hire subcontractors to verify their workers’ legal status.

The incident was part of a routine operation by federal immigration officials seeking specific fugitives, some with criminal records, who had been ordered deported.

Nine men from Guatemala living in Rhode Island were detained and are facing deportation. Seven of them were held in Bristol County Jail. Five of them allegedly reentered the country after being deported and were referred to the US attorney’s office for criminal prosecution.

Federal officials did not release the names of the detainees.

Forty-nine others, many from Guatemala, were also questioned and released on orders to report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine their legal status.

Steve Kropper, cochairman of Massachusetts Citizens for Immigration Reform, which favors stricter controls on immigration, said Gillette Stadium should hire only subcontractors that can prove that they check employees’ legal eligibility to work, given the high unemployment rate in Massachusetts.

“I demand that contractors verify their employees are citizens, and I’m sure that costs me more,’’ said Kropper, who owns a company. “It’s easy to do.’’

Kropper said, however, that he doubted that the existence of illegal immigrants would create a serious security breach.

Paul Mortenson, a member of the Board of Selectmen, also has questions. “Uniformed officers have to have their credentials checked going into the games,’’ he said, “[and] one would hope that the temporary workers might also be vetted.’’

The stadium found a crew to remove the snow, but it was unclear whether its members were among those questioned and released by federal authorities.

O’Leary, who said his officers assisted Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in the operation, said safety at Gillette Stadium was never an issue.

“None of the people had any outstanding criminal matters in the Commonwealth,’’ he said. “And based on my observation of over 25 years of managing large stadium events, I don’t perceive the stadium practices as dangerous. They are very prudent in terms of ensuring security.’’

He said the stadium follows a “best practices’’ guide that includes restricting certain vehicle access on event day, patting down fans, and checking packages. The methods have been certified by the US Department of Homeland Security.

Feeney said he is awaiting word from the police chief and the town manager before deciding whether to take action. The five-member board has the authority to revoke event licenses.

“The goal, he said, “is to have a nice, safe event’’ tomorrow.

www.boston.com