Feds Crackdown Hits Illegal Workers At Oahu Farm
Farm Leader Says Finding Workers Difficult In Hawaii

POSTED: 2:24 am HST August 22, 2008
UPDATED: 2:38 am HST August 22, 2008


HONOLULU -- A federal crackdown on illegal immigrants is making local farmers nervous, especially after one of the state's most prominent farmers lost 43 workers who he thought were all legal immigrants.

At the Honolulu federal courthouse on Thursday, several more illegal immigrant farm workers were ordered held without bail. They were among 23 immigrants charged with criminal immigration fraud.

In all, 43 immigrants face prison, deportation or both, and the lawyer for the farmer who employed all of them said he had no idea they were in the islands illegally.

"He's pretty much shocked about the whole situation. I mean, everyone was verified," Hawaii Farm Bureau President Dean Okimoto said.

They attorney for Larry Jefts said the workers were not being exploited. They worked full time, made $10.87 an hour and received full benefits, Jefts attorney said.

The farm, which covers more than 2,000 acres and has several hundred employees, was bustling, but apparently struggling.

"People are working overtime now and they are just trying to manage the situation as best they can," Okimoto said.

Court documents for the 23 criminal cases showed that most of the arrested workers typically traveled across the Mexican-U.S. border and bought documents for as little as $40.

"It's hard to know if someone is being an imposter these days," Okimoto said.

Investigators are focusing on how the men were recruited on the mainland, and whether farm managers knew they were illegal workers, sources said.

The investigation of Jefts, who has been a longtime champion of local agriculture, causes concern for other farmers who already say they have undergone tough federal labor audits.

"It's time-consuming, it's costly and to me, there is a lot of other businesses you can pick on," Okimoto said.

The farm bureau president said local farmers have a hard time recruiting local workers. They cannot just increase pay or their products would lose the price war with mainland farm products.

"We kind of feel picked on, especially when farming is not easy work," Okimoto said.

Local federal prosecutors said Hawaii was regarded as sort of a safe haven for illegals for a long time. However, more resources are being put into the issue in both agriculture and construction.

Immigration agents arrested 22 Maui construction workers on Wednesday.
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