Thread: More than half of workers detained in New Bedford raid still

More than half of workers detained in New Bedford raid still in US

Maria Sacchetti

A year after federal agents arrested 361 illegal workers at a New Bedford leather-goods factory, more than half of the workers are still believed to be in the United States, an outcome that is raising concerns on both sides of the heated immigration debate about the effectiveness of the operation.

After the raid on March 6, 2007, immigration officials vowed to sweep the detainees out of the country. But as of this week, only 165 — or about 46 percent — had been deported. The rest are fighting for asylum or visas in immigration court, and one man is still in jail in Texas.

The immigration agency cannot account for the whereabouts of 35 people who were processed and released at the scene the day of the raid, but lawyers believe nearly all of those former workers are also still in the country.

The plodding aftermath of a raid that whiplashed the aging seaport, drew criticism from the state and federal authorities, and captured national attention because some parents and children were separated is prompting new questions about the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s operation at the Michael Bianco factory.

“I think the United States made a plan that didn’t work,â€

But after the raid, they were back down to one meal a day and the children, especially the oldest, were at risk of dropping out of school. Plus, she said, she still owes the man who smuggled her across the border part of his $6,000 fee.

I'm not buying it. If she earned $3 a day back home, where did she think she was going to come up with $6k?

They were arrested for working in this country illegally, let go, and are still committing the same crime of working illegally. (I don't believe for a minute that any of them has the funds to go a year without working).
If an American is accused of and found guilty of a crime, they are given harsher/longer sentences for not showing remorse. Not only do they not show remorse, they continue to put the blame on others. (saying she doesn't understand why "they" are doing this to her?)
Are they telling their new employers they are illegal, or are they again using someone else's or a made up Social Security number?
Did they pay taxes this year?
Are the women who are sewing and selling their crafts at fairs paying taxes?
They should all be made to show how they have been supporting themselves and their children and deported if the gov't even knows where to find them one year later.