Homeland Security Frees 27 Illegal Immigrants, Sends Them Back to Work

$$ICE$$ · 04-01-2009, 08:48 PM

SEATTLE — The Department of Homeland Security freed 27 illegal immigrants arrested during a workplace raid in February and offered them legal work permits, signaling a major departure from the immigration enforcement policy of the Bush administration.
The Feb. 24 raid of an auto parts plant in Bellingham, Wash., netted 28 illegal immigrants. While one was deported, the remaining workers were released from custody and given employment authorization documents, or EADs, in exchange for cooperating with an ongoing investigation of their employer, Yamato Engine Specialists.

The EAD is a temporary work permit most commonly given to people applying for green cards or citizenship. It usually lasts for one year, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement sources say that these work permits will expire when the case against Yamato is closed.
Immigrant rights activists support the move and the new direction Secretary Janet Napolitano is taking the Homeland Security Department with her focus on penalizing employers rather than the immigrants themselves.
"She is crafting and the people in her department are crafting a strategy that could target some people who are abusive and manipulative as employers," said Pramila Jayapal, executive director of the Seattle-based immigrant aid group OneAmerica.

But critics say the softened policy will increase the number of illegal immigrants entering the country.
"The signal that it sends to illegal immigrants is that if you can get here, you're pretty much home free," said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
The Bellingham raid was the first and only mass arrest of immigrants since President Obama took office and came as a shock to Napolitano, who ordered a review of the incident the day after.
"I didn't know about it beforehand," she told the House Homeland Security Committee the morning following the raid. "I want to get to the bottom of this as well."
The response from the Department of Homeland Security marks a major shift from the last years of the Bush administration, when workplace arrests of illegals were commonplace.
Criminal arrests of employers who hired illegal immigrants skyrocketed from 25 in 2002 to 1,103 in 2008. The number of deportations jumped from 485 to 5,184 over that same time period. The Obama administration has sought a freeze on immigrant arrests.
Enforcement advocates say Americans should be outraged by the government giving illegal immigrants a right to work when unemployment is so high for documented workers.
Unemployment in Whatcom County, home to the Yamato plant, has risen to 8.1 percent, and in the days after the Yamato raid, more than 150 people applied for the jobs made open by the arrests.
Immigrant groups say the release was a humane act that is keeping families together and allowing them to earn a decent living.
Secretary Napolitano is expected to soon formally announce new guidelines for workplace immigration enforcement.

I don't get it... they are illegally here..they were caught...but not deported? I hope this isn't a taste of what's to come.

Swagger · 04-01-2009, 08:53 PM

Obama = Jimmy Carter Jr. as it relates to illegals. He is such a pathetic idiot.

Unknown Soldier · 04-02-2009, 06:43 AM

Unphuckingbelievable. Instead of doing his duty and protecting the country Barry has decided to destroy it from the inside. Another reason this fool should be "Lincolnized".

The Voice · 04-02-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

While one was deported, the remaining workers were released from custody and given employment authorization documents, or EADs, in exchange for cooperating with an ongoing investigation of their employer, Yamato Engine Specialists.

It's fascinating how nobody in this thread was able to read beyond the 2nd sentence.

Unknown Soldier · 04-02-2009, 06:11 PM

It's fascinating that some would think that beyond the second line actually means anything. They were already caught... snitching doesn't make it right ... nor should it be a ticket to the "promise land".

The Voice · 04-02-2009, 06:24 PM

People get plea bargains all the time. For better or worse, that's how the system works. Their assistance might help the government tackle a bigger problem with this company.

Gabriel · 04-02-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

It's fascinating that some would think that beyond the second line actually means anything.

Do you apply this philosophy to books too?

Quote:

It's fascinating how nobody in this thread was able to read beyond the 2nd sentence.

It doesn't make sense why they'd need 27 illegal immigrants to help with the investigation.

Quote:

Unemployment in Whatcom County, home to the Yamato plant, has risen to 8.1 percent, and in the days after the Yamato raid, more than 150 people applied for the jobs made open by the arrests.

Considering this^

The Voice · 04-02-2009, 06:43 PM

You're assuming the "ongoing investigation" is one that involves illegal immigration, yet the article doesn't specifiy what the investigation relates to. It could be something totally unrelated, like unsafe health practices, work demands, pay rates, drugs ... who knows.

Unknown Soldier · 04-02-2009, 06:53 PM

That's irrelevant. They are in this country illegally .. they got to go .. simple as.

The Voice · 04-02-2009, 07:19 PM

Not anymore they're not.

04-01-2009, 08:48 PM	#1
$$ICE$$ I talk too much! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In your closet beside the umbrella. Posts: 1,584	Homeland Security Frees 27 Illegal Immigrants, Sends Them Back to Work SEATTLE — The Department of Homeland Security freed 27 illegal immigrants arrested during a workplace raid in February and offered them legal work permits, signaling a major departure from the immigration enforcement policy of the Bush administration. The Feb. 24 raid of an auto parts plant in Bellingham, Wash., netted 28 illegal immigrants. While one was deported, the remaining workers were released from custody and given employment authorization documents, or EADs, in exchange for cooperating with an ongoing investigation of their employer, Yamato Engine Specialists. The EAD is a temporary work permit most commonly given to people applying for green cards or citizenship. It usually lasts for one year, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement sources say that these work permits will expire when the case against Yamato is closed. Immigrant rights activists support the move and the new direction Secretary Janet Napolitano is taking the Homeland Security Department with her focus on penalizing employers rather than the immigrants themselves. "She is crafting and the people in her department are crafting a strategy that could target some people who are abusive and manipulative as employers," said Pramila Jayapal, executive director of the Seattle-based immigrant aid group OneAmerica. But critics say the softened policy will increase the number of illegal immigrants entering the country. "The signal that it sends to illegal immigrants is that if you can get here, you're pretty much home free," said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform. The Bellingham raid was the first and only mass arrest of immigrants since President Obama took office and came as a shock to Napolitano, who ordered a review of the incident the day after. "I didn't know about it beforehand," she told the House Homeland Security Committee the morning following the raid. "I want to get to the bottom of this as well." The response from the Department of Homeland Security marks a major shift from the last years of the Bush administration, when workplace arrests of illegals were commonplace. Criminal arrests of employers who hired illegal immigrants skyrocketed from 25 in 2002 to 1,103 in 2008. The number of deportations jumped from 485 to 5,184 over that same time period. The Obama administration has sought a freeze on immigrant arrests. Enforcement advocates say Americans should be outraged by the government giving illegal immigrants a right to work when unemployment is so high for documented workers. Unemployment in Whatcom County, home to the Yamato plant, has risen to 8.1 percent, and in the days after the Yamato raid, more than 150 people applied for the jobs made open by the arrests. Immigrant groups say the release was a humane act that is keeping families together and allowing them to earn a decent living. Secretary Napolitano is expected to soon formally announce new guidelines for workplace immigration enforcement. I don't get it... they are illegally here..they were caught...but not deported? I hope this isn't a taste of what's to come. __________________

04-01-2009, 08:53 PM	#2
Swagger Junior Chatterbox Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Posts: 1,067	Obama = Jimmy Carter Jr. as it relates to illegals. He is such a pathetic idiot. __________________

04-02-2009, 06:24 PM	#6
The Voice A True Chatmaster Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 40° 34′ 33″ N, 84° 11′ 34″ W Posts: 27,860 Blog Entries: 1	People get plea bargains all the time. For better or worse, that's how the system works. Their assistance might help the government tackle a bigger problem with this company. __________________

04-02-2009, 06:43 PM	#8
The Voice A True Chatmaster Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 40° 34′ 33″ N, 84° 11′ 34″ W Posts: 27,860 Blog Entries: 1	You're assuming the "ongoing investigation" is one that involves illegal immigration, yet the article doesn't specifiy what the investigation relates to. It could be something totally unrelated, like unsafe health practices, work demands, pay rates, drugs ... who knows. __________________

04-02-2009, 07:19 PM	#10
The Voice A True Chatmaster Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 40° 34′ 33″ N, 84° 11′ 34″ W Posts: 27,860 Blog Entries: 1	Not anymore they're not. __________________

04-02-2009, 06:43 AM	#3
Unknown Soldier Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DEEP in the HEART of YOOPER. Posts: 4,189 Blog Entries: 4	*Unphuckingbelievable. Instead of doing his duty and protecting the country Barry has decided to destroy it from the inside. Another reason this fool should be "Lincolnized".*

04-02-2009, 06:11 PM	#5
Unknown Soldier Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DEEP in the HEART of YOOPER. Posts: 4,189 Blog Entries: 4	It's fascinating that some would think that beyond the second line actually means anything. They were already caught... snitching doesn't make it right ... nor should it be a ticket to the "promise land".

04-02-2009, 06:53 PM	#9
Unknown Soldier Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DEEP in the HEART of YOOPER. Posts: 4,189 Blog Entries: 4	*That's irrelevant. They are in this country illegally .. they got to go .. simple as.*

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