http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news ... 778887.htm

Posted on Fri, Feb. 03, 2006



Rumors paralyze Mexican workers
Many in the city's restaurant industry stayed home this week because of fears of an immigration raid.
By Gaiutra Bahadur
Inquirer Staff Writer

Rumors of a raid by immigration agents in Philadelphia created panic in the city's Mexican community this week, leading many restaurant workers to stay at home, according to immigrants and groups that serve them.

"People have been very frightened," said Rocio Vazquez, consul for protection at the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia. "They didn't go to work. They didn't take their kids to school. Some people have even said they moved."

She spent Monday and Tuesday frantically chasing down rumors of immigration raids at the 69th Street Terminal, the Mexican restaurant La Veracruzana in South Philadelphia, and other restaurants in the city.

No one had been able to give her the name of a single illegal immigrant detained by authorities, she said. Nevertheless, she said, many illegal immigrants have stayed in their houses.

Maximino Pedro Sandoval, a busboy at a Center City restaurant, said many of his coworkers and friends did not go to work Tuesday night for fear of being detained and deported. In agreeing to an interview, Sandoval asked that his employer not be identified.

The retreat by workers was so widespread that it hurt restaurants in Center City, according to sources in the industry who declined to be named because they did not want their establishments linked to the practice of hiring workers illegally.

One restaurant owner, who declined to be identified, said he had to wash his own dishes.

"It's really hard work," he said.

Elise Vider, a spokeswoman for the Center City District, said she had heard of no disruptions at Center City restaurants on Tuesday.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said they have conducted no sweeps for illegal immigrants in Philadelphia recently.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing, is going on as far as an operation," said Ernestine Fobbs, a spokeswoman for the agency in Washington.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact staff writer Gaiutra Bahadur at 215-854-2601 or bahadug@phillynews.com. Inquirer staff writer Michael Klein contributed to this article.