Thread: ICE arrests 15 illegal aliens working at Louisville

ICE arrests 15 illegal aliens working at Louisville area restaurants

Posted: Nov 15, 2007 10:09 AM EST

Updated: Nov 15, 2007 11:17 AM EST

By Scott Harvey

LOUISVILLE (WAVE) -- Fifteen illegal alien restaurant workers were arrested in the Louisville area Wednesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents as part of an ongoing criminal worksite enforcement investigation. WAVE 3 Investigator Scott Harvey spoke to immigration officials who say they are cracking down on the illegal visitors and the businesses that employ them.

Following a year-long investigation, Federal Immigration and Custom agents say they made several arrests at a restaurant in Bardstown and in La Grange. Federal agents also arrested several alleged illegal aliens at a home in Oldham County.

"They busted every room," said a man who says he lived in the home. They used heavy-duty hammers.

The man told us he doesn't really know any of the people arrested. He was detained by ICE officials, but later released, although he says they did keep some of his personal items.

"I've got my expired U.S. passport. They took them away. Also, my naturalization certificate, they took them."

In Kentucky, some government leaders want to tackle the illegal workforce problem locally, by holding employers responsible. But federal officials say that is what they are trying to do. In the past, immigration agents say business owners were punished with administrative fines, but those fines were looked at as a business cost. Now the feds want to file criminal charges.

ICE official Gail Montenegro said "we find that the prospect of spending 10 to 20 years in prison, and seizing their properties and bank accounts for knowingly taking part in this illegal activity is a much greater deterrent."

Montenegro says illegal workers hurt the U.S. economy. "Every job that is taken by an illegal alien worker is one that is not available to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, who does have the authorization to work in this country."

With Wednesday's arrests, federal officials say no criminal charges have been filed against the owners of the two restaurants, because it's still an ongoing investigation.

The 10 Chinese nationals and five Mexican workers that were arrested are being processed for deportation.

All those arrested are being processed and deportation proceedings will be forthcoming.

ICE was established in 2003 as an investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. In 2006, ICE removed 195,000 illegal immigrants from the U.S. While investigating worksites and the use of illegal immigrants last year, ICE arrested 716 people on criminal charges and more 3,000 individuals on administrative charges.

Online Reporter: Scott Harvey

Online Producer: Michael Dever
http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=7364666

Isn't this just a nice clean piece of reporting? I found it refreshing.

Good for Louisville!!! I love going there and I would hate to see it turn into a Mexican slum.

Originally Posted by sgt_shlitz

Good for Louisville!!! I love going there and I would hate to see it turn into a Mexican slum.

We're losing the area around the Downs which is probably where you go. Illegal employment got its' start there so it's fitting I guess. People in this community are finally going after the council about it.

I hang out mostly in the Highlands area because that's where my buddy lives. Churchill Downs is a hoot as well. I also hang out at Skyline Chili alot, heh heh.

This IS good news.Now I would like to see I.C.E. do a little investigating in the other end of Kentucky,the Cumberland Mountains.They are here and they are increasing.(The illegals.)