Thread: Serious security breakdown at Exxon’s depot

http://news.bostonherald.com/immigratio ... eid=146288

‘Serious security breakdown’ at Exxon’s depot: 15 illegal aliens nabbed on the job
By Casey Ross and Jay Fitzgerald
Friday, June 30, 2006 - Updated: 07:21 AM EST

The U.S. Coast Guard shut down the highly volatile ExxonMobil fuel depot in Everett for most of the day yesterday for a “serious security breakdown” after 15 illegal immigrants were arrested while working for a contractor of the worldwide petroleum giant, officials said.

The illegal aliens, all from Ecuador, were hired to clean up hazardous materials near ExxonMobil storage tanks that hold gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene and other volatile materials.

They were arrested after failing to check in with security while attempting to access equipment they had stored next door at Distrigas, which operates a terminal containing potentially explosive liquefied natural gas.


“There was a serious security breakdown” at the ExxonMobil facility, said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Scott Carr, adding that “all operations” were suspended until the company complies with security regulations. The company was allowed to resume operations by 9 p.m. last night after presenting the captain of the port with a new security plan.

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Homeland Security officials have been on edge about fuel shipments through Boston Harbor that could cause catastrophic casualties in the event of an attack.

Most public attention has focused on the Distrigas LNG tankers, which steam into the harbor under heavily armed sea and air security and dock at the company’s Everett facility on the Mystic River. Carr praised Everett police and Distrigas for preventing the workers from getting on the company’s property.

Authorities said the illegal workers, two of whom had warrants for ignoring deportation orders, were working for Randolph-based Fleet Environmental Services, an ExxonMobil contractor hired to clean up a recent petroleum spill.

All of the workers, including three women who city officials said were not dressed in work clothes, were arrested by immigration agents at about 8 a.m. yesterday.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Paula Grenier said deportation proceedings were initiated for 12 of the workers, two will be ejected based on prior orders and one is already in deportation proceedings. Grenier said all but the individual already in deportation proceedings remained in ICE custody last night.

Meanwhile, local officials expressed outrage at the security breach, which was caught by an alert Everett marine cop who noticed the workers were not wearing protective suits and failed to follow security protocol while attempting to access the Distrigas dock.

“This is unacceptable,” said state Sen. Jarrett Barrios, who is chairman of the Legislature’s Committee on Public Safety and represents Everett. “The real issue here is . . . these workers had no apparent training and an employer with no interest in checking criminal backgrounds.”

A woman at Fleet Environmental said no executives were available yesterday to comment. But she added: “We’re looking into the matter.”

A spokesman from ExxonMobil, which posted $8.4 billion in profits in the first three months of the year, tried to distance the company from the employment of illegal aliens.

“It is our company’s practice and policy to follow all laws and regulations and it’s our expectation that our contractors do so as well,” company spokesman Brian Dunphy said. “. . . We are in contact with Fleet to determine what issues may exist with their employees.”

“The real issue here is . . . these workers had no apparent training and an employer with no interest in checking criminal backgrounds.”

Yeah, well, so what else is new?

Hey, they work cheap, so what more could you ask for?

It is our company’s practice and policy to follow all laws and regulations and it’s our expectation that our contractors do so as well,” company spokesman Brian Dunphy said. “. . . We are in contact with Fleet to determine what issues may exist with their employees.”

It is the old contracted employee scam. fine Exxon, they knew those guys couldn't speak English and they probably knew they were illegal.

My friend just came back from Georgia where his brother has a large farm. Now, his brother and the other large farmers in the area don't hire illegals, he contracts to a woman that shows up with her workers. He then pays her (cash) and she pays her workers. therefore the farmers are not hiring illegals. Seems pretty weak to me.

These middlemen contractors should be held accountable. Most of them are self-employed and fly under the radar with regards to alot of employment laws. If you have 25 or less employees you are not subject to the same tax law and employment law scrutiny that larger companies must adhere to. They do not even claim to have these people working for them because they pay them in cash. That is why the employment of illegal aliens is much larger in these contracting companies. We must enforce the laws with these contracting companies to prove eligibility work status for their workers prior to being hired for contract work with another company. The company that hires these contractors must ask for proof as well. We must stop this passing the buck that goes on with all contractors and construction companies.