Thread: O'Hare Raid Highlights The Dangers Of Illegal Immigration

O'Hare Raid Highlights The Dangers Of Illegal Immigration
By: Joe Murray, The Bulletin
11/13/2007

A multi-agency investigation headed by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) came to a tipping point last week when 23 workers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport were charged, under state law, with allegedly using fraudulent security badges to gain access to sensitive airport locations. A corporate officer and the office manager of the employment agency representing the 23 workers were also charged under federal law.

According to the charging affidavit, it is alleged more than 100 temporary workers were found to be in possession of the fraudulent badges, as Ideal Staffing managers, the agency in question, told employees they needed identification, but such identification did not have to be legitimate.

Mary Gurin, Ideal Staffing's corporate secretary, and Norinye Benitez, the office manager, were each charged with one count of harboring illegal aliens for financial gain and misuse of Social Security numbers. Ms. Benitez is an illegal alien from Mexico and Mr. Gurin allegedly hired and signed her airport badge with full knowledge of Ms. Benitez's status.

"The investigation identifies a vulnerability that could compromise national security while bringing criminal charges against individuals who built an illegal workforce into their business practices," said Elissa A. Brown, special agent-in-charge for the ICE Office of Investigations in Chicago. Immigration reform activists couldn't agree more.

When asked if she was surprised by last week's raid, Rosemary Jenks, director of government relations for NumbersUSA, responded, she "is no longer shocked" by such headlines. Rather, the immigration reform advocate was pleased to see the Bush administration was enforcing laws already on the books.

"We certainly hope this is the first step in addressing this serious problem," stated Ms. Jenks. "If it is the ending step, we are in a world of hurt."

Ms. Jenks argues the Bush administration must continue to apply pressure to employers hiring illegal aliens, for as long as jobs are available illegal aliens will continue to come to America. Unfortunately, federal resources are slim as there are only 5,000 ICE agents to conduct these raids and to also locate 600,000 illegal immigrants who were ordered deported, but are hiding in the country.

"If the (Bush) administration was serious about such enforcement, these raid would be going on every day," stated Ms. Jenks. She argued it is not enough to go after one or two big companies, but the government should target all those employing illegals, even "mom and pop shops."

"When was the last time you heard of a raid on a hotel," asked Ms. Jenks. "If we are spending all that money in Iraq, certainly we can spend it on protecting the border."
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ICE...please come to the Casinos in Vegas.....PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!