Immigration raids must be followed by proper punishment
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 10:07 AM CST

Nearly a year ago, federal authorities staged a series or raids in 26 states aimed at cracking down on employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Officials at the Department of Homeland Security said it was all part of a get-tough effort on businesses that violate immigration laws and said that those arrested and charged would be dealt with harshly.

Well, 10 months after the raids the first defendants have had their day in court.

More than 40 locations of IFCO Systems, among the leading pallet makers in the U.S., were raided in April 2006, resulting in some 1,100 arrests.

The Netherlands-based company was, from all indications, a particularly flagrant violator of U.S. immigration and employment laws. Homeland Security officials said more than half the company’s nearly 6,000 employees had invalid or mismatched Social Security numbers.

One top IFCO Systems executive pleaded guilty to conspiring to employ illegal workers. He could get up to two years in prison and be hit with a $250,000 fine.

Two other company officials pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge in the case. They are looking at six months in jail and a $3,000 fine for every illegal alien who worked for the company.

But federal officials say their sentences could be tempered by their cooperation.

Anyone surprised?

It’s one thing to put on a show. Quite another to follow through.

The raids got Homeland Security and federal officials some publicity and made them look like they are really cracking down on those who employ illegal aliens.

The raids got Homeland Security and federal officials some publicity and made them look like they are really cracking down on those who employ illegal aliens.

But unless those raids are followed by meaningful punishment for the offenders, they are nothing but so much smoke and mirrors.

The only way to get illegal immigration under some measure of control is to take away the incentive for employers to hire cheap labor and for immigrants to come to this country looking for work.

Take away the money.

And unless employers are faced with the very real possibility of very severe punishment—including prison time—then nothing will change.

Paying a fine is just the cost of doing business. But company owners and executives might find the prospect of prison time too high a price to pay.


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