What Happened at Koch Foods

Koch Foods processes chickens for fast food restaurants across the Southeast. Koch Foods was being investigated for federal crimes including encouraging, inducing or harboring illegal aliens. Federal agents pulled 161 suspected illegal aliens from Koch Foods Tuesday, but did not find all of them. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents seized documents and other materials at the Koch Foods plant in southwest Ohio and at Koch Foods Inc.

Immigration agents raided a poultry packaging facility in Fairfield, Ohio, yesterday morning and arrested scores of illegal immigrants at the Koch Foods. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. Immigration spokesman Richard Rocha said the operation was the end result of a two-year investigation. Immigration agents surrounded the chicken processing plant where Danny Alvarez-Reyes works, he did the only thing he could think of: he gave his coat to a scared friend determined to hide in the walk-in freezer. The attorney for Koch Foods has issued a statement regarding the immigration actions at the Fairfield plant on Tuesday. The statement says that the company is fully cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and furthermore that the company is complying with all immigration laws and looking to resolve the current matter quickly.

Moskowitz said employees faced a range of charges including illegal reentry to the United States, identity theft, document fraud, social security fraud and forgery. The raid was the latest targeting businesses employing illegal workers. "Unlawful employment is one of the key magnets drawing illegal aliens across our borders," said Julie L. They knew those were illegal criminal aliens they were hiring. There are 12-20 million illegal aliens presently in the country. Lawsuits and Department of Labor enforcement actions aimed at illegal pay practices in the meat and poultry processing industries are quite common.

The 700 poultry workers here, most of them Mexicans, might seem ripe for organizing, but labor's efforts at resurgence face daunting obstacles. That pace means that many workers make 18,000 cuts during their eight-hour shifts as they prepare breasts, wings, tenders and cutlets for restaurants and consumers. Smith said she and the two other workers in her unit often could not go to the bathroom for hours at a time because the pace was so demanding and there was nobody to replace them. Back in Morristown, the Koch poultry workers are so united behind a union and have generated so much community support that they persuaded Koch to pledge not to mount an anti-union campaign. 'While rumors flew among Hispanics that some had been hurt or even frozen to death during the raid, ICE spokesman Greg Palmore said there were no significant injuries and that workers who hid in freezers had quickly been found. Palmore said everything possible had been done to ensure children would not be left unattended if parents had been arrested, and ICE officials said some workers may be released for humanitarian reasons if caregivers could not be found. Interviews with the owner of the plant that is now complaining that there are no workers to do the jobs (left unsaid, at the wages he is willing to pay).

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones has been one of the country's most outspoken opponents of illegal immigrants and employers who use them, and has lobbied Washington for better enforcement and deportation of undocumented workers. "THESE RAIDS ARE AN OUTRAGE," advocates for immigrants said the raid was an arbitrary and unfair action that hurts immigrant families and does nothing to solve fundamental flaws in American immigration law. "Deportation is a revolving door," said Elias Bermudez, the founder of Immigrants Without Borders, an advocacy group which works with thousands of illegal immigrants in the border state of Arizona. Some town leaders say such immigrants account for most of those seeking work. Nearly 2 million jobs that are important to [California] are held by illegal immigrants. All but four of the 29 illegal immigrants arrested last week in a raid targeting workers at the world’s largest hog processing plant had stolen the identities of American citizens, federal prosecutors said Tuesday as they announced identity theft charges. Twenty of the 161 suspected illegal immigrants that federal agents detained after raiding a poultry packaging plant in Fairfield are in jail today on charges of falsifying identities.

Koch Foods will face federal charges for crimes of inducing, encouraging and harboring illegal aliens, among others. Koch Foods said it was cooperating with Federal agents in the investigation. The actions come after a two-year ICE investigation yielding evidence suggesting Koch Foods may have knowingly hired illegal workers at its poultry processing and packaging plant, according to an ICE statement.

Police, Immigration Status, and Jose Carranza

A day ago, attorney general of New Jersey, Anne Milgram, told police that when they arrest someone, they must ask them what their status is - as far as being in the United States legally. But some police and others aren't happy doing that.

Local Jersey officials and advocates of immigrants started thinking today about how this questioning of peoples arrested would all play out. They wanted to know if the police would be doing something wrong.

Englewood is a Jersey hot spot. Police here estimate there are over 26,000 illegal aliens - and the authorities here have always posed the immigration question - so to them - this new rule doesn't change things. In the city of Freehold, a lawsuit put all this on hold. A new chief of police there is still trying to make heads or tails of what Ms. Milgram meant.

Here's how all this happened.

An illegal alien named Carranza, 28 years old from Peru, was arrested for committing serious felonies. Somehow, $150,000 was put up by a bail bondsman. Carranza was released from the Essex County jail back in May of this year. Before this, Carranza put up $2,000 seven months earlier, being charged this time with assault including weapons - he was in a bar fight. This sprung him from Essex County jail.

Believe it or not, authorities didn't know he was an illegal alien. Carranza worked, illegally, and is now charged with three murders - he killed three people on August 4th. His bail - yes, there's a bail - is set at $1 million.

So attorney general Milgram said let's ask when we arrest anyone if they can prove they are in the United States legally. But already some people have wondered it this would have stopped the senseless murders in New Jersey by an illegal immigrant. They claim that other illegals wouldn't report crimes. Anne Milgram says that victims, people asking assistance of the police, or witnesses, would not be checked for immigration status.

And finally, Scott Weber of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Detention and Removal in Newark says that ICE isn't really set up to handle these notifications on a large scale. Looks like the attorney general's office will be planning more ways to work this rule out.

Driving Without a Drivers License as an Illegal Alien

They're getting caught in larger numbers than you think. Illegal immigrants driving without a license. And when they are pulled over, many departments now have the authority, given by the Homeland Security people, to enforce immigration law. This means they are detained until turned over to the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) where they are processed and sometimes deported.

So how do you even think of driving without a license?

Well, it didn't start out that way. What happened was 9/11. And now the people who renew drivers licenses are demanding proof of legal residence to suspected applicants. Call it racial profiling - I was never questioned when I renewed my license a few years ago. And I live in a city where I know more than a few illegal immigrants.

They DID have valid drivers licenses when they started driving in this country. But then when the enforcement came - it says right on the renewal postcard - be prepared to show proof of legal residence - ALL who were illegal simply did not renew. So the plastic drivers license they had in their wallet was now worthless.

How do they keep on driving?

Here's where it gets interesting. Illegal aliens without drivers license simply blend in with other traffic. They do everything they can to not stand out - sometimes in crazy ways. They drive the speed limit - which does make them stand out. They try at all costs to keep their cars legal - lights working, license plate sticker up to date. If the car needs to be inspected, that is done, too. All clean - up to date. One would think that the illegal immigrants drive better, take care of their car better, and are doing more to save gas and lives than Americans.

Some question - why target these people - they aren't criminal. But they miss the point. The point is, if an American were in their country, driving around without a valid license, they'd be stopped. If in that country undocumented - they'd be deported. It should be the same here.

They may not commit murder, though some recently have, but nonetheless, they are not correct in what they are doing. It is not right to break the law, is it? Why do police target law breakers? Hmmm... I thought that's what we tax payers paid them to do. No?

Green Card Lottery - Not Guaranteed Visa

Some folks think that once you've won the Green Card Lottery, you're automatically granted a visa to live in the United States. Thousands participate in the Green Card Lottery, for the countries that it is open to - and naturally, many do obtain their Green Cards.

We personally know of one person from Brazil who with his family now live happily in Orlando, Florida, as they won the Green Card Lottery about two years ago. It happens more often than you think, and it is the legal and proper way to come into the United States.

But how can I find the Green Card Lottery? You can apply for the Lottery for Green Cards, and yet, even though you win, you may not be eligible to enter permanently. So what is the catch?

Applicants must pay the now $750 US dollars that the embassy requires and go through and pass various medical exams. In addition, you have to have some schooling. The US Government says Green Card Lottery winners must have an advanced level of education or have worked two-years in a professional position within the past five years. Sounds complicated. But it gets harder.

If you win the Green Card Lottery, you will go through a through police investigation, performed by the United States. This means you must have an ultra-clean record to come to America. It is not as easy as it seems - still - there is a good chance, if you apply.

There are about 50,000 to 55,000 U.S. Visas allocated specifically for the Green Card Lottery. The proper name of the program is called the Diversity Visa Lottery Program and you can only enter online through the State Department. The application process is FREE although there are cases of fraud - people charging others a fee to fill out the application - the world over.

If you do not apply through the State Department website, your application will probably be marked as fraudulent. Get ready as the next "Diversity Visa Lottery Program" - or Green Card Lottery as most call it - will take place in October of this year.

Green Card Lottery Website: www.dvlottery.state.gov

Illegal Immigrant and Drivers License

Since the federal government isn't doing much about illegal aliens and drivers license, or for that matter any element of undocumented aliens, the local governments are saying they've had enough.

Local communities are using their own local laws to target illegal immigrants who drive with no drivers license. Since now, most cities require you prove you are legal in the United States, illegal aliens don't get new licenses - or get old ones renewed. And being pulled over by a traffic cop is just a matter of time.

Another bite into illegal immigration is to the landlords who rent to known illegal aliens, and businesses that knowingly hire them. The ACLU says that there are over 40 such laws on the books, being enforced.

Some see the drivers license ordinance with illegal immigrants as racial profiling. Ramon Becerra, at the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement says almost all the cars that are towed belong to Hispanics. The mayor of Waukegan, Illinois, Richard Hyde, says that now the illegal aliens stopped with no drivers license are mostly white people. He notes that traffic accidents have gone down.

How You Will Get Caught

If you are an illegal immigrant, the chances are you will be caught as you go to and from work. If your car is not in good shape, there is a chance that something will break, and you will have to stop at the side of the road. A police will likely pull up to check out what is happening.

As an illegal alien, your best chance of not getting caught driving without a drivers license is by taking public transportation - the bus, or a taxi. However, you must be aware that you are still working illegally and that there is probably an ordinance against your employer for hiring you without documentation.

Sooner or later, if you don't gain legal entrance to the United States, and proceed in the proper and legal manner, you will be caught.

Will Giuliani Deport Illegal Immigrants?

Clearly a political move, but also frustrated with the way illegal immigrants are taking over certain sectors of the country, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani shot back at former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney who claimed a week ago that Giuliani was weak on illegal aliens.

Presidential hopefuls have more than a plateful with the economy, the war in Iraq, and a country overrun by illegal immigrants seeking Green Cards. But what can illegal aliens expect?

Should a Republican win, an illegal immigrant can expect a hard road ahead. Giuliani told an audience in Aiken, South Carolina, Tuesday morning, "We can end illegal immigration. I promise you, we can end illegal immigration." So how's he going to do that?

Giuliani said he's going to secure the borders and identify every non citizen in the USA. It's one of his "12 commitments" to the American people. He knows there are now more than 12 million illegal aliens walking within the borders.

Giuliani said if he'll catch the illegal immigrants by deporting them when they commit a felony. But that's not all. Giulini claims he will build a high-tech invisible and a physical fence. He'll deploy a bigger and better-trained border patrol. There will be a tamperproof ID card for ALL foreign workers, and students, and a single national database to track non citizens.

BorderStat is the new system Giuliani proposes based on his CompStat program from New York City. BorderStat, like CompStat should reduce illegal aliens as it did crime in New York. So, BorderStat will weigh which things are working in the system, and which are not.

With the election in 2008, the illegal immigration issue is one of the Republican voter hot-buttons. They opposed the Immigration Bill that President Bush and Senator John McCain, R. Ariz., so vigorously supported. Because of this, McCain is having a tough run on the campaign trail. Not good - but we know how Republicans feel.

Now, with Giuliani's immigration policy coming a week after Romney told the country that New York City was "at the top of the list" of cities that offer services like public schools and hospitals to illegal immigrants. Romney said that New York City did little to have a police force enforce current Immigration Laws.

But wasn't it in 1996, when he was mayor, that Giuliani sued the federal government for provisions in the federal immigration laws that would encourage government employees to turn in illegal aliens seeking benefits from New York City? Now, he's changed his position.

Sanctuary Cities they are called; those cities that provide public services for illegal immigrants. While Romney was governor of Massachusetts, three cities declared that they were Sanctuary Cities. So you see, there is inconsistency on both sides.

Need to Speak English for Green Card

It was a Saturday night in Naples, an upscale coastal town in Southwest Florida. As the clock neared 10 PM, Brazilian born Flavia asked the checkout people in English at the Super Wal-Mart she was in, if they were closing. There answer was Yes!

Flavia phoned her husband, waiting in their car with a new miniature schnauzer, and told him she could no longer buy the dog crate they so needed because the store was closing now. Her husband suggested asking a manager if she could slip in and rush to buy the crate. Flavia did - and the American worker wondered why she was in such a rush?

Turns out Super Wal-Mart, Naples, does not close at 10 PM in this town. It's open 24/7.

The fact is that the majority of the check-out clerks don't speak English - at least enough to let someone know if the store is closing.

It gets worse.

Flavia bought the wrong size crate, so her husband returned to the Super Wal-Mart, now knowing they were open all night, and at midnight found their Customer Service office closed. However, a checkout clerk motioned for him to talk to workers that were sorting through 20 or 30 shopping carts. A supervisor came to the husband and told him he'd have to get in the very long check out line because Customer Service was closed. That was fine.

The husband went to the pet area down near the Garden Center and got the correct size dog crate. On the way back to the check out area, he stopped a Wal-Mart employee in cosmetics and asked where the toilet paper was. They needed some at home. To his amusement, the employee at first looked puzzled, at the English, and then asked in broken English, "what for?"

Ok, off to find someone who speaks English at the Super Wal-Mart in Naples, Florida.

Finally in the check out lane, the husband explains - look - the big one, I am returning, ok? Yes, the clerk says with a Spanish accent. She proceeds to scan the large return. Then, the husband hands her the receipt so she can process the return.

Have you seen those Visa commercials on TV where everything is flowing nicely until someone tries to use cash? That's the exact scene here. Very puzzled, the clerk asks what the receipt is for. The clerk did not speak any English at all - except the "ok". She then called the same manager as before and out the store the husband went.

Do you need to be able to speak English in order to have a Green Card in America? Apparently not. Should you have to? Americans say YES!

Here's the thing - take most populations and when they come to America, only the wise seek out how to speak English properly. Then those who learn English, like Flavia, are tagged by the majority who don't, to help. For example, Flavia was telling us, a group of Brazilians in the Dallas/Fort Worth area have only a handful that actually speak English. The rest, some here for as long as 15 years - DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH!

Americans, for the most part, learn the language of the country they are going to live. They seek out to learn the customs of these countries. All they are asking is that immigrants do the same to preserve the American Heritage.

For that reason, it will become harder and harder for immigrants to gain Green Cards. Speaking English will certainly help. Americans want you to speak their language if you are going to live in their country. You'd expect the same in your home country, no?

No, you don't need to speak English to get a Green Card, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

Fake or False Social Security Numbers

When interviewed, Juan said that he would not stoop to using a fake Social Security number, because false Social Security numbers would only make it more difficult to land a Green Card and permanent residence later on. Juan was smart and came to this country with enough money to keep him independent, and pay for an Immigration Lawyer so he can get his Permanent Visa.

But we're hearing from Washington, that even this week, federal authorities are going to make life miserable for those with fake Social Security numbers and those who hire people who have false Social Security numbers. The new rule would force employers to automatically fire those employees, illegal immigrants who got the job using a fake Social Security number. The new rules will be enforced by raids across the United States on suspect businesses.

The Department of Homeland Security proposed these rules last year, but as we all know what happened with the debate in Congress regarding the immigration bill, the rules were put on hold. But now, the Department of Homeland Security says they will enforce the new rules, and they don't need the bill.

What this means is that if you are employed, but have a fake Social Security number - chances are - you eventually will be caught. The days of waiting for amnesty are gone for now. There won't be another vote on something that will allow you to stay in America until after the elections. And the raids are praised by the conservatives.

Republicans have demanded that the administration do more regarding illegal immigration. They say if only they would enforce the laws, everything would be fine. But what will happen next?

We think that millions of businesses that employ illegal aliens will protest these raids. We feel they will petition Congress to do something about the 6 million illegal aliens that work in the United States. Congress will discuss the measure and force the administration to ease off the raids on businesses with illegal aliens. But Congress will not address the immigration bill until after the election in 2008.

Russ Knocke of the Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday, "We are tough and we are going to be even tougher. There are not going to be any more excuses for employers, and there will be serious consequences for those that choose to blatantly disregard the law."

Employers receive letters from the Social Security Administration saying that the number they have provided from the employee does not match. Employers have been for the most part, disregarding these letters. But now employers, especially those who harvest crops, say they are concerned.

Over 70 percent of workers on farms here in the United States are illegal immigrants. Experts believe that the government will visit these places first as an easy target. We agree.

It's only a matter of time.

Military Service for Green Card

There was an hour and a half phone conversation from Brazil to a Brazilian working at a law firm in Miami. Then, once here in the U.S., the family called the same person, but got conflicting information. In search of truth, they drove four hours to another Brazilian lawyer in Pembroke Pines to hear how to become legal.

One of the single men in the group posts entries on dating websites, looking for a potential Green Card marriage.

They would do almost anything for that blessed Green Card. But the question of military service scares them more than the fear of being caught here in the United States.

How many illegal immigrants have died in Iraq? Nobody really knows, but Flavia Jimenez, an immigration policy analyst at the National Council of La Raza states that "we know recruiters may not be up to speed on everybody's legal status. We know that a significant number of illegals have died in Iraq."

We pinpoint Los Angeles where the recruiting is done mainly in high schools, 75 percent Latino. And it's common knowledge that recruiters there offer Green Cards. We found the practice as widespread as Texas. And some recruiters actually tell the kids that if they don't enlist, and they are illegal, they will soon be deported - them and their family. This happened in a case in Chicago.

The Pentagon denies that illegal immigrants are in the military at all. And if they are, they committed fraud. One private was discovered illegal while in Iraq. Army Pvt Juan Escalante was discharged and shipped home. Immigration and Customs Enforcement started a proceeding against his parents to deport them - but they were saved when Escalante's unit leader wrote a letter saying he had served with distinction.

Jose Gutierrez wasn't so lucky. He came illegally from Guatemala in 1996 to escape the death squads there. Enlisted, Gutierrez was killed by friendly fire. He was awarded citizenship posthumously. When recruiters find illegals willing to sign up, they write the word "pending" for their Social Security number. Gutierrez finally got his.

President Bush signed an Executive Order on July 3, 2002, providing for the "expedited naturalization for aliens and noncitizen nationals serving in an active-duty status in the Armed Forces of the United States during the period of the war against terrorists of of global reach." What does this mean? Well, any noncitizen can be granted citizenship on their first day of active duty. But it doesn't specify illegals.

In many American wars, citizenship was granted solely on the basis of three years of honorable service or discharge, whether or not the person ever lived in the United States. And the people recruiting need to tell their prospects more - they are hiding a few facts.

For one, the military doesn't have the authority to grant citizenship. All it does is forward their application to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement which then scrutinizes them - and their families - for up to a year. Citizenship can be denied for past criminal offenses, dishonorable discharge - meaning refusing to fight in combat.

Military recruiters will exploit the desire for citizenship of illegal aliens as long as they can. And a bill, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill (S 1639) failed to pass in the Senate last June. It was to give permanent residency to any "alien who has served in the uniformed services for at least 2 years and, if discharged, has received an honorable discharge."

This means the government knew illegals were there all along.

But with the defeat of this bill - those illegals who died for the United States will go unknown.

Green Card or Citizenship Serving in Military

While we haven't personally investigated this ourselves, we'll report what we've heard and you can make your own decision. It has been reported that U.S. military recruiters are dangling the offer of American citizenship at young illegal immigrants.

These illegals, who are looking at every option to becoming legal, are told they will get citizenship quickly for them and their entire families. OK, there is some truth to that statement. We found, after some research, that the recruit generally gains American citizenship - and usually pretty quick - depending on what Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) finds.

But what about mom and dad and sister and brother?

Not so fast. Each person in the family has to go through a separate application process. They may get a little good out of the sibling enlisting in the U.S. military, but we did see any in our research.

As we've reported before, illegal aliens have open ears to any and all immigration lawyers. When their friends here in the United States tell them of another lawyer with information, they are quick on it, sometimes driving days to get any new bit of information that may help them become legal here in this country. So when they hear that you can really get a Green Card and United States Citizenship by enlisting in the military here, they are pressured by family and friends.

Illegal aliens are wide open to exploitation in this case. As a large part of illegal aliens are slaves to their undercover routine here in America, they suffer certain vulnerabilities. And the pressure by the illegal alien flock is great. Why?

Because illegal aliens that enlist are enticed into bringing other illegal aliens into the military fold. They are paid $2000 US for every friend they talk into enlisting, and in some recruiting offices they are paid $50 US for every name they provide to a recruiter.

But it doesn't stop at cash. Provide names and get your friends to enlist and you get a higher military rank. Good quality friends - higher promotions. And once enlisted, the soldier can request hazardous duty. Sign up for combat or dismantling explosives, handle toxic chemicals, and you just won an additional $150 US a month.

We found that since most illegal aliens signing up don't have a college education, their pick of jobs in the military is very limited. Most are sent into combat, anyway. The tests are only administered in English - and jobs requiring security clearance can only be held by a U.S. Citizen.

But can illegal immigrants serve in the military? The Pentagon says "no" - and we take up that issue in our next report. We'll address the illegal who was found out and shipped home. The Pentagon says they enlisted fraudulently. Yet recruiters are paying to have them enlist. Puzzling.

Will the Dream Act Help Your Illegal Kids?

The children of illegal aliens probably benefit most from illegals moving here to the United States. But what sort of benefit might they have if an act called the Dream Act becomes reality?

There's a bill in Congress called the Dream Act, and what it would do is give some 65 thousand high school graduates who came to the United States illegally as kids, a chance for citizenship by finishing either two years of college, or military service.

Well, this bill has been kicking around for many years, and in our opinion, when it comes up in September, it will once again be voted down. This is called "educational amnesty" by opponents.

They say that simply because a person is smart, they shouldn't be exempt for gaining citizenship legally like many others have to. It just doesn't add up.

But some say their parents drug them out of their countries so why should they have to pay for their "mistakes?" Okay, then - go back to your country. It's not a mistake - the mistake might have been not applying legally.

Even now, people facing deportation are awaiting until September - a reprieve from our government - to see if the bill passes.

Given the current temperature of the political terrain on immigration - plan differently. The Dream Act will not pass.

Immigration Problems Hit a Federal Fence

If you've been here long enough, you've heard of the town out east that decided to use local government to fight the illegal immigration problem. Just a quick note on the repercussions of what happened recently there.

A Federal Judge named James Munley has overturned the right of local government to enforce any - any of the provisions of their ordinances. This is for Hazleton, Pennsylvania. There, the mayor proclaimed he'd make it tough on illegal immigrants.

Indeed, there were $1000 a day fines to landlords who rented to illegal aliens and to businesses that hire illegals? - Well, their license would be revoked. Documents had to be in English and translation into other languages would have to be approved.

So where is this going?

In our opinion the Federal Judge is wrong. Local government should have the right to protect itself from encroaching illegal immigrants - UNTIL the Federal Government is doing their job of enforcing the law already on the books.

This will naturally further the division between people pro illegal immigration. This will begin more appeals and fights to stop the freedoms illegals have.

What is the next step?

The next step will be local authorities going to court over the matter v.s. the Federal Government. Next, the Supreme Court. At that point, Congress will likely have to put teeth into the laws already on the books here in the United States.

Recent changes in fees for Green Card filing and immigrant visas were put in place to create a fund for upholding the law against illegal immigration in this country. The fight in the court will further the government to take a stronger stand at our borders.