Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: 68ZooM on June 13, 2007, 08:52:16 PM
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PORTLAND - A local attorney says Tuesday's immigration raid in Portland was retaliation against worker complaints about safety violations.
Federal agents executed search and arrest warrants at three Portland locations. They say about 30 of those arrested were allowed to stay in Portland for health or family reasons. A busload of arrestees arrived Tuesday night at a U.S. Department of Homeland Security facility in Tukwila, Wash.
Officials say the raid was based on a federal investigation that began in January. But a local attorney and professor who represented Del Monte workers in a class-action lawsuit against the company says it was revenge.
"This was a publicized settlement where immigration officials were aware that there was this group of workers who had complained about workplace violations and this is the first plant they go after in Oregon -- I think it's more than coincidence," Keith Cunningham-Parmeter told KOIN News 6.
A state investigation found that eight workers were fired after complaining about safety problems.
Officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement sent a response to KOIN: "ICE conducts all operations strictly in the interest of law enforcement and not for any other reason."
Then the Mayor who has been described as an Republican wrapped in Democrat's Clothes, this is what he had to say...
PORTLAND - Mayor Tom Potter says he is angered by Tuesday's arrest of dozens of workers at a Portland plant.
He issued this statement:
I am angered by this morning's arrest by federal officers of approximately 150 Portland residents who were working at a local produce company.
I certainly understand why federal officials executed criminal warrants against three individuals who stole and sold Social Security numbers. But to go after local workers who are here to support their families while filling the demands of local businesses for their labor is bad policy. It also serves as a reminder of the failure of our national leaders to deliver an immigration policy that is both fair and humane to families and acknowledges the economic realities of our country.
Our nation would be better served if this kind of energy was focused on creating a comprehensive approach to immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship; addresses the immigration backlog that keeps families apart; and provides a safe and legal way for workers to enter our country and be productive workers and taxpayers. Immigrants provide more than mere labor in our community. They have long enriched our history, our culture and our city. My heart goes out to families dealing with the aftermath of this morning.
In this morning's raid, no Portland police officers participated, and our Crisis Response Team was activated to help families affected.
And here is what the Company which employed them has to say..
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. Responds to Immigration Visit at Portland, Ore. Facility
CORAL GABLES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 13, 2007--Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. (NYSE:FDP) takes its obligation to comply with U.S. immigration law very seriously. In response to reports that have appeared in various electronic and print media, Fresh Del Monte confirms that on Tuesday, June 12th, 2007, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") personnel visited Fresh Del Monte's Portland, Oregon facility. Fresh Del Monte has been advised that it is not a current target of the investigation.
Fresh Del Monte has, and will, continue to cooperate with ICE in its investigation. Fresh Del Monte retained American Staffing Resources to provide a contingent labor force at the Portland facility. Fresh Del Monte does not employ this labor force. Fresh Del Monte is committed to complying with all laws and regulations.
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is one of the world's leading vertically integrated producers, marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, as well as a leading producer and distributor of prepared food in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Fresh Del Monte markets its products worldwide under the Del Monte(R) brand, a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness and reliability for over 100 years.
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Only 12,999,835 left to go. But hey, it's a start.
We should even up our trade with Mexico. They export their citizens, we should eliminate the trade deficit and export as many as they do.
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Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
Only 12,999,835 left to go. But hey, it's a start.
We should even up our trade with Mexico. They export their citizens, we should eliminate the trade deficit and export as many as they do.
My dad had a great idea. We should fine each illegal alien in this country 10,000 - 50,000 dollars depending on how long they've been here, and if they've broken any other laws.
If (when) the alien defaults on the payment (10 days after notification, regardless if the alien has been deported yet), the payment defaults to Mexico itself for encouraging such actions. And as such, we halt all money flowing into mexico (but not out of) and confiscate it as the penalty for the illegal alien.
Maybe then we won't have to build a fence, and could make a good chunk of change at the same time.
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Call me crazy...Id just like to see the immigration laws enforced. Morons like that Mayor are the root of the problem. Somehow it became en vogue to allow illegals to stay because, gawsh darnit, its just *mean* to enforce the law.
:rolleyes:
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They should all be shot as spies for sabotaging the American middle class.
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Immigration needs reformed......No they should not be allowed to stay PERIOD..
The crazy part of the immigration process is that first they have to catch them.. Then they process and identify them.. Then they RELEASE them with a date to show up for their deportation hearing...
Then naturally they have to catch them again after they fail to show for said deportation hearing..
Would actually be funny were it not true...
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They need to be shipped back immediately... notice how many e-coli outbreaks we have had since they have essentially been given all of the meat packing plant jobs? many diseases that had virtually disappeared have made a strong comeback thanks to illegal immigration.
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Originally posted by lasersailor184
My dad had a great idea. We should fine each illegal alien in this country 10,000 - 50,000 dollars depending on how long they've been here, and if they've broken any other laws.
If (when) the alien defaults on the payment (10 days after notification, regardless if the alien has been deported yet), the payment defaults to Mexico itself for encouraging such actions. And as such, we halt all money flowing into mexico (but not out of) and confiscate it as the penalty for the illegal alien.
Maybe then we won't have to build a fence, and could make a good chunk of change at the same time.
I like it, but it will never happen....
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oh boo hoo hoo
So what if it was revenge.
Dont hire illegal aliens and you wont have retaliatory immigration raids
Pisses me off as much as anything is come here illegally then have the gall to piss and moan and start demanding things.
If you manage to sneak in here the least you could do is keep your mouths shut
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why are all you people so upset over news of sick birds? I don't get it.
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This is so American in so many ways... They have been here long enough that they were filing lawsuits... it mattered not that they were illegals.. the shyster told em it didn't matter that they "deserved" the money.
They are true Americans.. they are the "victims" now.
Another thing... What do you want to bet that all of those jobs are filled in a week or two by real Americans? Jobs Americans won't do? I bet there is a waiting list to get hired at that cannery. I bet it pays pretty well.
lazs
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A local attorney says Tuesday's immigration raid in Portland was retaliation against worker complaints about safety violations.
Didn't they understand that part of the deal was not only doing jobs American's wont do for $5 per hour, but under conditions Americans haven't tolerated since the start of the 1900s?
Get with the program. Sheesh. If they're not careful the DelMonte board will just move the plant to some sweatshop in some 3rd world dictatorship and then those illegals will be out of a job!
Charon
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So who is getting punished for employing all those illegals?
Looks to me like De Monte just wanted to get rid of the trouble makers and replace them with a fresh batch of less savy illegals.
Sort of reminds me of how Saudi Arabia deals with their immigrant laborers on their oil fields.
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Move the cannery to Mexico. There are quite a few operations already there and figuring that a very significant proportion of fruit and vegetables (local politicians excepted) come from or through Mexico already it seems reasonable to just import them as already processed and canned. That would also provide cannery jobs IN Mexico instead of the US.
Yeah yeah I know that means outsourcing the jobs of illegals to a legal country. huh.... :huh
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In every cannery I have seen the wages were pretty good and there is always a waiting list to get hired.
fire the illegals and Americans will do the work.
lazs
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Originally posted by Mr No Name
many diseases that had virtually disappeared have made a strong comeback thanks to illegal immigration.
which ones?
ack-ack
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Oregons minimum wage is $7.85 a hour. Yea i know not much if you have a spend spend habit.
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yea but what about all their kids that were at school when there parents were packed up on the bus ... :O
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If the kids were born in America, send them to foster care (and teach them English) then send all their criminal parents back to wherever they came from.
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I think we better annex Mexico before Mexico annexes the US.