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Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is asking federal officials to rethink their policy on workplace immigration crackdowns that involve established businesses and to focus on employers that mistreat workers instead. The mayor said in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff that work-site raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement could have “severe and long-lasting effects” on the local economy, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday. ICE made more than 4,900 work-site arrests nationwide in fiscal 2007, a 45-fold increase over the number in 2001, authorities said.
Villaraigosa accused federal officials of targeting “established, responsible employers” in industries that rely on “workforces that include undocumented immigrants.” “In these industries, including most areas of manufacturing, even the most scrupulous and responsible employers have no choice but to rely on workers whose documentation, while facially valid, may raise questions about their lawful presence,” he wrote in the March 27 letter. He said ICE should spend its limited resources targeting employers who exploit wage and hour laws.
Chertoff has not responded to the mayor’s letter, but Homeland Security spokeswoman Laura Keehner said the department believes its priorities are correct. She said work-site investigations focus on national security and public safety and that the agency also investigates companies it believes may have committed visa fraud, money laundering, and other violations.
The headline sounds a bit ominous, almost threatening. The translation just may be, we want you to enforce the law as long as it doesn’t hurt my chances for re-election.
I am sure the mayor’s letter is taped to the wall somewheres in a cubicle for laughs.
#19 “but lets gets excited about removing the death tax and capital gains tax because its unfair that the top 10% pay so much in taxes.”
No, let’s get excited about getting rid of all income based tax and replace with a tax on consumption above certain minimum levels.
The gov’t has no business penalizing me if I work hard & want to invest for my retirement.
#19 – The cost to California’s budget is over $10 billion. http://tinyurl.com/mvobc
Fed budget is another matter ON TOP OF the states budgets.
#20 You are repeating yourself, honey.
See #13
#24 – Thanks, dear.
Because there is no problem with immigration. It’s a distraction from real problems.
But reading the comments, some are just natural born stick chasers.
#26 – Since there is no “problem” why don’t you pay all the money it costs tax payers. I’m sure that wouldn’t be a “problem” for you. Let us know when you’ve done it. Don’t bother replying until you’ve paid.
#27 – Let’s quit pretending the illegal immigration (which exists only because we create a demand for it in this country) cost’s taxpayers any money at all.
I can play the same game by saying the war in Iraq is costing taxpayers money so lets stop the war. All these roads are costing us money, so lets take the train. Schools cost money so lets be dumb. Whatever I object to is where my tax money goes and whatever I want is what we need to raise more money for. Thus, I can manufacture taxpayer indignation for whatever issue I like.
You don’t get to decide how much is collected, how much more than the collected is spent. Were it even a practical solution, they could magically make every illegal disappear tomorrow… and you taxes won’t go down nor will your services increase.
Taxes are not the point, is my point.
#28 – “Were it even a practical solution, they could magically make every illegal disappear tomorrow… and you taxes won’t go down nor will your services increase.”
Cite your reference please. Especially about services…
#29 – Well Pat, you got me… I’m basing my statement on my cynical belief that we, the people, are an afterthought in the new world order.
#30 Damn, got me there. Probably right though.
Right near the end of “They Thirst” by Robert McCammon, LA has become nothing but vampires and is wiped out completely by a giant tidal wave sent by God. Too bad the tidal wave is only fiction so far.
#16, apeguero, I’ve long suspected that the illegal alien problem has been encouraged in part to eventually justify requiring all US citizens having identity papers, and maybe internal passports.
Villaraigosa sure has him some cahoonies.
OFTLO, that makes no sense. By your logic, the Iraq War isn’t costing taxpayers any money, and neither are schools, cops, welfare or anything else.
Why are people bashing the employers. These workers show up with valid documents, and when the SSNs don’t match, the Feds say you as an employer should not interpret that as this worker is illegal.
Does Mayor Villar work for Mexico or Los Angeles?
He would make a fine president for Mexico and his puppy dog Chief Bratton could be his helper.
Villar is truly a piece of work.
The answer’s comment is hilarious, I fully agree.
the answer said, on April 11th, 2008 at 9:56 am I am sure the mayor’s letter is taped to the wall somewheres in a cubicle for laughs.
#35 – “Why are people bashing the employers. These workers show up with valid documents,”
As an employer who has used the system I call B.S.
A guy shows up who doesn’t speak English, a lot of times not even Speaking Spanish but some native dialect. He gives you a SS# and says his name is Thor Olafsen… Or, gives you the name Pedro Chavez (otherwise same scenario) & it doesn’t match the SS#…
It’s not rocket science.
He is swore to uphold the law. If he can’t he should be removed.
#36, Funny question.
Unfortunately, news like this makes me doubt the man’s integrity to the office which he holds. We are a nation of laws and that is what binds us. We are supposed to be the great melting pot. All aliens (except for the Native Americans of course) with different cultures and native languages but all wanting to be Americans. The law clearly states that only people with Resident Alien cards and naturilzed citizens can live here permanently. There are exceptions however, such as exchange students, temporary work visas, visitor visas, etc. For the mayor of any city in the US to ask a Federal Agency in charge of enforcing our immigration laws to lay off of it is so f’ing assenine.
Like I said in one of my comments yesterday, the US = Rome 2.0. How soon before the US suffers a similar fate. Hey, I’m sympathetic for the hard working woman/man. But how long can our country tolerate the abuse? Oh, another thing, what is the official language of the US?