Posted on Tue, Oct. 16, 2007 Outspoken mayor in hot water over using illegal immigrants

The Associated Press

http://www.philly.com


BOGOTA, N.J. - Two undocumented workers hired by conservative Republican Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan last week dispute his account of events, saying he sought them out for work and never asked whether they were legal residents.

Lonegan, a staunch proponent of stricter policies on illegal immigration, has acknowledged recruiting the men on Oct. 8 but insisted they told him they had proper papers.

But The Record of Bergen County on Tuesday reported that the Guatemalan men, 20-year-old Elder Chuta and 22-year-old Victor Evaristo, said Lonegan picked them up along Route 46 at a popular spot for day laborers.

He said he and Evaristo were driven to the home, shown campaign signs and offered $80 each for eight hours of work to assemble them.

Both workers said they were never asked to show documentation or questioned about their legal status by Lonegan.

The two men were later questioned by police at a home Lonegan owns in Bogota after a resident called police and said there were two men walking through the vacant residence.

"It doesn't matter to me," Lonegan said of the differing accounts. "To me, it's irrelevant, whether they were standing inside or outside. I will hire anybody I want, and if they don't prove to be proper, they don't get paid."

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Information from: The Record of Bergen County, http://www.northjersey.com