Illegal immigrant raid strikes heartland

My Gosh, losing a third of the workforce will be just devastating to the employer. I just know they must be cooperating fully by opening their records. I hope there is no backlash to their business and the public will not boycott their products.
With so much activity in the area, I wonder how many undocumented workers were in the plant during the raid.
BOBZILLA

Being a NE Iowa native, Postville is pretty small. Seems like there is only one bank in town.

Banks have pretty high identity standards. They pay attention to deposit patterns and the lack of a deposit pattern. They won't skirt the law to make a buck like some industries. And toss in that most bankers are conservative.

That picture is easy to paint. Breaks my heart, not.

Jeetz,
I hadn't thought of that, you very well may be correct.

I am an Iowa resident and noticed one important part missing on this article. That is how an estimated 76 percent of the work force there was using false identities / SSNs. I understand the #1 crime in the U.S. now is identity theft. These jerks could have been / are using the identities of any one of us law abiding, U.S. citizens. Just think how many people have had their credit and lives ruined now. What's even more unfortunate is most of those victims probably don't even know it yet. That is such an important reminder that immigration control impacts us all and why immgration enforcement is so important. I applaud "ICE" for doing such an outstanding job by cracking down! (When is the last time you heard someone say that about a government agency?!)

wdmguy

First of all, identity theft and fake SS numbers are not at all related in this case. But that is not what I would like to talk about. I just want to point out that all of those people who were rounded up like animals and stolen away from their families are all god's children. They were some of the only people not to leave iowa once they turned 18 and were contributing to the economy, paying taxes, and growing iowa. I think we should remember that they are fathers too trying to make a better life for their families, just like me and I imagine many of you too. this is a tragedy, we shouldn't be celebrating it.

I firmly agree with the previous writer that they are all Gods children. With that said I suggest that if he truly believes in what he says heshould post his address online so all illegals can camp in his backyard and eat his food. They are hungry and he sould give them food because he has some.

With taht said this is what we should do. People on Welfare and unemployed there are now jobs available.

Banks are one example. Small town banks may be small town, but they still have high tech access just as urban banks. In fact small town banks have gone the same route as other small town businesses. They have given way to larger urban banks -- becoming satellites of those banks. And now have access to a larger database.

The only reason I thought of them was because of all the frozen assets post - 9/11. Only a guess -- but I'm thinking banks now have some industry-wide reporting standard and likely cross databases and are required to contact authorities if they believe accounts are suspicious.

It all started with the integration of national policing standards -- local -- state -- national cooperation. We can be thankful for the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

A HUGE Bush success.

Also, it could have been the company insurance carrier, too.

Anyone with access to a national database could have been the one who outed them. Then all the sudden they find that SSN with another person's name attached. That's going to start an investigation.

I think you are going to see a huge increase in raids because of access to large databases and the national integration of those databases. The minute an illegal tries to get health insurance, gets stopped without auto insurance or open a bank account -- wham -- that SSN number is going to get kicked out by a national database because it already exists for someone else.

Who would have guessed...an anti-immigrant neck from Iowa of all places.

You provided a very ignorant view on the matter that did not leave much to comment on.

I think sglynn was more than kind.

I am more interested in knowing the amount of jail time the employer will get in this case. From the reports I read about this case, this company blantantly knew what was going on and looked the other way.

And if history repeats itself, if we give an amnesty to those breaking our laws, how many will be here in the next 20 years? Those given amnesty in 1986 didn't stay in those low-paying jobs, so what makes anyone think these people will either?

I want to see the employers and human resource manager who allowed four or five people to use the same SSN get at least 20 years in prison and pay a fine of at least one million dollars. I want to see their names and faces plastered all over the internet.

And if I HAVE TO SEE/HEAR ANY SOB STORY in regards to this raid, let it be from those whose SSN was used and the hardships that American citizen endured because of this.

And for those who want to proclaim that hamburger will be $15 lb, we need to eat less meat anyway!

Finally, it seems like at least a little bit is starting to work on this issue. I recall seeing a story recently that illegals crossing has seemed to have slowed.

I saw this in the Des Moines paper last night. I'm a native so I check it often and the coverage in the Des Moines Register was pretty extensive. At last count, there were 735 comments under the original story. The paper pretty much has the same "Kumbaya" attitude about illegals that the Star has.

And though they may be God's children, so am I and the other people who have to foot the bill for their illegal activity. I've known people who have had their identity stolen and it can take years to get it fixed, if you ever do get it fixed.

Toss those responsible for hiring them in jail, fine the companies heavily.

"Toss those responsible for hiring them in jail, fine the companies heavily."

Jail time and very heavy fines are the only way to get the business community's attention. A business like Agriprocessors Inc. knew exactly what it was doing when it hired illegal immigrants.

The only way to curtail illegal immigration is to make the number of available jobs dry up.

Immigrant implies some level of legality. They are not "immigrants" in any sense of the word. They cost US Taxpayers $338 Billion a year, and I am sick of idiots (one of whom posted in this thread) defending these scoflaws "as innocents only searching for a better life". BS, there are millions around the world striving to get to the US, and they play by the rules.

If is time to ETL, enforce the laws! Find 'em and deport 'em. Prosecute to the max those that give them any kind of help, including domicile or employment. It is time to end this mess. Look to Ohlahoma's recent legislation, illegal aliens are fleeing the state by the thousands.

"A business like Agriprocessors Inc. knew exactly what it was doing when it hired illegal immigrants."

It profited at the expense of other business who abided by the law.

Illegal immigration will only slow when there's no market for the immigrants. I hope the feds make an example of Agribusiness.

_____________________________

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.

not "Agribusiness." Brain fart. :-)

_____________________________

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.

Said Joe Pescado:

Who would have guessed...an anti-immigrant neck from Iowa of all places.

You provided a very ignorant view on the matter that did not leave much to comment on.

With a name like yours, Pescado, who would of guessed you would support illegal activity by illegals?

Right over my head, Pescado! (laughing)

I hope they give those Social Security number THIEVES a swift kick back to wherever they came from.

And for the record Mr. "Where's the 80,000?," I'm not an anti-immigrant neck. I'm an anti-illegal redneck thank you. And I where that red proudly with white and blue to boot.

So boot 'em.

Don't you think all of those meetings that good ole George had with Mexico's president Vicente Fox that the immigration issue was discussed. I don't believe either administration has made any effort whatsoever to stop the illegal immigration at our southern border. They could have put a stop to it but they haven't and didn't and the new president of Mexico doesn't seem to be addressing the problem either.

We have no one but ourselves to blame for the immigration mess - we have not enforced our laws and a whole bunch of elected officials continue to turn their heads from the problem and I believe they continue to take care of their big biz cronies - those employers are never going to see the inside of a jail.

Get educated on what is going on with NAFTA. Elected officials daily are OPENING those borders - they aren't closing the borders or stopping the Mexican people from coming here illegally.

All citizens need to be closely questioning the presidential candidates what they will be doing to address the illegal immigration mess - tell them you don't want lip service but actual action plans that they recommend and will place in order if they are elected.

Unlike the KC cut-throats on Prime Buzz, former Iowans still stick up for Iowans.

Great state, great people.

And before you make some ultra-clever remark about going back there -- I'll add that I moved to the KC area -- legally and I got my SSN legally.

So if you want illegals to be in America, then give them your own damn Social Security number.

"So if you want illegals to be in America, then give them your own damn Social Security number."

I assume you're addressing Agriprocessors' CEO.

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Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.

I agree that the company should not be let off the hook. But the fact still remains that they illegally secured jobs.

So if you want them to have jobs -- pony up that down home liberal hospitality and give them your Social Security number.

When I want illegals to come here, I'll do just that -- however, it's clear that those who do want illegals here are the higher ups at Agriprocessors and other companies who skirt our laws and avoid their responsibilities by hiring illegals.

Hold the lawbreakers responsible.

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Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.

Liberals love breaking the law.

Look no further than their opposition to Voter ID.

to pick up the workers and help them cross the border. And they buy apartment buildings to house their workers.

So no, they should not continue to get off with no consequences.

Guy's a bit slow, isn't he?

_____________________________

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.

When I corner you liberals all you have is filler. Love it. Just flat out love your extraordinary comebacks.

Right on over my head -- zooooooooom. (smile)

Most of the time your mouths are outperforming your brains with little diversion nuggets like "Guy's a bit slow, isn't he?"

Again, right over my head -- zoooooooom.

Later, dweebs.

The public records have started to get released on those arrested. I've provided a link below to a database that the Des Moines Register has started to build regarding specific charges. The majority of those charges are "Misuse of Social Security Number" and / or "Aggravated Identity Theft".

Here is the link / URL:

http://data.desmoinesregister.com/results/index.php?BRSR=0&info=postville_detainees&detainee_fname=&detainee_lname=&charges=&attorney_fname=&attorney_lname=&sort=&desc=&sortBy=

wdmguy