Thread: MS: Tracking Illegal Immigrants

Tracking Illegal Immigrants

Thursday, Feb 07, 2008 - 06:00 PM Updated: 07:12 PM

By Ashley Strange

The Country Club of Jackson is in trouble for hiring more than 2 dozen illegal immigrants. According to U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton the Country Club of Jackson knowinlgy hired and employed illegal immigrants for almost 2 years. The Country Club has entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Basically, if the Country Club follows guidelines set by the Justice Department for the next 2 years, it won't be prosecuted on criminal immigration violations and social security laws. If the Country Club doesn't follow guidelines, it faces a fine of $3,000 for each illegal employee and another fine of more than $500,000.

According to Lampton, the Social Security Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tried multiple times to contact the Country Club of Jackson to let them know that 43 employees' social security numbers did not match records. ICE found that 37 employees had used fake ID cards. Lampton says the Country Club never responded to either agency.


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According to Lampton, the Social Security Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tried multiple times to contact the Country Club of Jackson to let them know that 43 employees' social security numbers did not match records. ICE found that 37 employees had used fake ID cards. Lampton says the Country Club never responded to either agency.

While cooperation between ICE and the SSA is a good thing, I'd also like to see greater cooperation between ICE and the IRS, and even better, between IRS and the SSA. Not only would the population of IAs begin to become uncovered, but would also make a serious dent into the rampant problem of identity theft in the US as well.

$214K fine levied over illegals

Country club's slap warning for companies to review their hires

Rebecca Helmes


Business owner LeRoy Walker Jr. follows a checklist to make sure all new hires have proper documentation.

"We sort of have a blueprint that we adhere to," Walker said about his Canton McDonald's franchise. "The Department of Labor is very, very particular about making sure that we adhere to that procedure."

Not all companies are following those strict procedures though, U.S. District Attorney Dunn Lampton said Thursday, and from now on those employers could face felony charges.

His office filed a criminal complaintagainst the Country Club of Jackson citing immigration and Social Security violations. The complaint says the country club was knowingly employing illegal immigrants.

However, the federal government has agreed to not prosecute the Country Club of Jackson for two years. In exchange, the country club must pay a $214,500 fine, be audited by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and establish a training program to help employers detect fraudulent documents. If the Country Club is in full compliance, the federal government will seek a dismissal.

Lampton said such an agreement is often used but generally not for major cases. "I felt like this was a good case to begin with. You hated to come out of the box and go after someone to the nth degree."

Two people who answered the phone at the Country Club of Jackson on Thursday said the club is not commenting. No attorneys for the country club could be reached for comment.

If convicted, the club would face a $3,000 fine for each illegal immigrant and another fine of up to $500,000. A conviction also would carry a period of supervised release.

Bill Chandler, executive director for Mississippi Immigration Rights Alliance, said these efforts could have a chilling effect.

"Employers are going to be intimidated, workers are going to be discriminated against," Chandler said. "What this does is create an atmosphere that is purposely dehumanizing Latinos in Mississippi and elsewhere in the United States. It's a bad policy."

He said immigration issues could better be addressed by examining trade policies the United States has with the foreign countries where the immigrants come from and by making the immigration and naturalization system more efficient.

"Attacking people simply because they work does not solve the problem," Chandler said.

An affidavit cites a letter sent in May 2006 by the Social Security Administration informing the country club that 43 employee names and Social Security numbers submitted on tax forms did not match federal records. The club never responded to the Social Security Administration, according to the affidavit.

In August 2006, ICE agents reviewed the country club's employee files and found 37 people hired by the club at various times who had used counterfeit immigration documents and Social Security cards, a statement from Lampton said. ICE agents also found that 33 of the 37 employees were still working at the club.

Though club officials allegedly promised to fire the employees, ICE agents discovered 27 were still working at the club more than a week later. The country club allegedly responded that the 27 employees were necessary for the business.

On Sept. 13, 2006, ICE conducted a search of the club, detaining and deporting 18 illegal immigrants. They were predominantly from Mexico, but a few were from Argentina, Uruguay and Honduras.

"We've not seen any further evidence of ... ineligible workers (at the country club)," said Steve Cole, an ICE special agent.

There are several pieces of legislation being considered in the Mississippi House and Senate this session that deal with illegal immigration.

A Mississippi Senate committee approved a bill Thursday that would take away worker's compensation benefits for illegal immigrants who are injured on the job. The bill, headed next to the floor for a vote, would also require employers to verify their employees' immigration status using the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's E-verify system.

Temple Black, spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Orleans, said the focus on cracking down on employers who hire undocumented workers is growing.

"We have investigations going on all the time," Black said.

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