http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051119/ap_on_re_us/wal_mart_illegal_workers

SCRANTON, Pa. - Federal officials say the arrest of 125 workers at a construction site for a new Wal-Mart distribution center should serve as a warning to employers who hire illegal immigrants.

All 125 workers arrested in the raid will be deported, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials said Friday. The workers from Mexico and Central America were detained Thursday at the site outside Pottsville, about 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

"Employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens, and those who utilize false documents to gain employment, face significant criminal and administrative charges," said John Kelleghan, acting special agent-in-charge for the immigration agency in Pennsylvania...

...Last month, Wal-Mart shut down work on seven stores under construction in North Dakota to check for illegal aliens after two illegal immigrants working on Wal-Mart projects in Bismarck were charged with molesting two 13-year-old girls. Charges against one of the suspects were dropped after authorities found out he was a juvenile.

In 2003, a raid of 60 Wal-Mart stores in 21 states led to the arrests of 245 illegal workers. An affidavit claimed a pair of senior Wal-Mart executives knew cleaning contractors were hiring illegal immigrants. The retailer agreed to pay $11 million in March to settle the case but denied senior executives knew of the hirings.

11 million is chump change for WalMart, and they should pay real punitive damages. A billion would be a good start.

I'm not a walMart basher, but I do believe that people and companies who hire illegals should be dealt with severely. That would solve the illegal problem overnight. If the risk of hiring them is greater than the reward, they won't be hired, and will have no incentive to come here in the first place. If they want to come legally, them they should go through the legal process, like millions before them have.

There's no point in having laws if they're not enforced.

We are in agreement.

I must say, I'm torn on this issue. Altough I am against illegal immigration, I like it when businesses ignore the illegal minimum wage laws and hire workers at lowball rates. I <3 cheap labor. I hate illegal immigration. What's a republican to do?

A billion would be a good start.


Sorry but we don't live in a fascist state that criminalizes businessmen. If you want to live someplace where they do that stuff, move to North Korea.

We should allow in as many immigrants as we need to sustain our economy. But we should pick and choose who comes here.

There shouldn't be some sort of second class citizen program set up like the Bracero program that Kennedy and McCain want to revitalize.

Illegal aliens lower overall labor prices (wages). And it is not just in the "jobs Americans won't do" it is in the trades, in the restaurants, and especially in home construction. These are good jobs.

22 years ago when I became the head cook (min wage was 3.35) I was paid $9/hr. 17 years later when I hired a head cook I paid him $12/hr. (min wage was 6.75) In 17 years the min wage more than doubled but the pay for a similar position had only grown by 1/3.

23 years ago I worked as a "scrapper" for a commercial construction project. I picked up nails and good pieces of wood and generally cleaned things up. I made $10/hr. 16 years later as my house was being built the guys laying the concrete and framing the house were making $12/hr. They were all Mexican illegals. Same with the head cook I hired.

:nice: this is a good start.

I must say, I'm torn on this issue. Altough I am against illegal immigration, I like it when businesses ignore the illegal minimum wage laws and hire workers at lowball rates. I <3 cheap labor. I hate illegal immigration. What's a republican to do?

I suppose that's good if you you wish to exploit people to make a buck...but it's a crap deal if it's you trying to live on minimum wage.

About 19,999,875 more invaders to extract and deport.

I must say, I'm torn on this issue. Altough I am against illegal immigration, I like it when businesses ignore the illegal minimum wage laws and hire workers at lowball rates. I <3 cheap labor. I hate illegal immigration. What's a republican to do?

rubicon is right :nice:

I'm not sure, but I believe the practice of low ball slave labor originated in the catholic church. :|

If it did it's against the Catechism which states that it's a sin for employers to pay workers less than a living wage. :)

It is well known fact that the minimum wage prevents legal, American citizens from obtaining experience for future, better job opportunities. The mimimum wage should be abolished.

If it did it's against the Catechism which states that it's a sin for employers to pay workers less than a living wage. :)

minimum wage is liveable.

with God anything is possible. :|

It is well known fact that the minimum wage prevents legal, American citizens from obtaining experience for future, better job opportunities. The mimimum wage should be abolished.

Working for $3 a day isn't a 'better job opportunity' for Americans.

There is no proof that the minimum wage significantly affects the level of hiring. Without a min wage many companies would play games. The min wage is an effective use of government power regulating the private sector.

An employer paying less than a livable wage deserves what little work he gets for it. If he cannot afford to pay staff, he should learn to multitask.

An employer paying less than a livable wage deserves what little work he gets for it. If he cannot afford to pay staff, he should learn to multitask.

Agreed. It is easier and more cost effective to fire unnecessary workers.

Sorry but we don't live in a fascist state that criminalizes businessmen. If you want to live someplace where they do that stuff, move to North Korea.

I'm not talking about facism, or criminalizing business. It's about punishing criminals who hire illegals. Wal Mart can pay an 11 million dollar fine, and hire more illegals the next day. If they choose to operate legally, they'll never have to pay a cent.

Illegals come here to work. If the lawbreakers who hire them lose their incentive, they won't come. That's the ONLY way to solve the problem. People will always find ways to cross over. If they can't go by land, they'll go by air, or boat. We need to create an environment that gives them no desire to sneak in illegally. The best place to start is to nail those who are creating the incentive.

By the way, I'm a Republican too, and I'm not torn on this issue at all. Where I live, the illegal problem is getting really bad. If we enforce our laws it will go away.

If a person sees someone getting held up, they usually call the cops, because a crime is being committed. We need to call the law when we see people knowingly hiring illegals as well. We can't pick and choose our laws.

I'm not talking about facism, or criminalizing business. It's about punishing criminals who hire illegals. Wal Mart can pay an 11 million dollar fine, and hire more illegals the next day. If they choose to operate legally, they'll never have to pay a cent.

Illegals come here to work. If the lawbreakers who hire them lose their incentive, they won't come. That's the ONLY way to solve the problem. People will always find ways to cross over. If they can't go by land, they'll go by air, or boat. We need to create an environment that gives them no desire to sneak in illegally. The best place to start is to nail those who are creating the incentive.

What I hear you saying is that the cost of mass deportation is not worth the effort. I completely agree. Who wouldn't want to come here?

By the way, I'm a Republican too, and I'm not torn on this issue at all. Where I live, the illegal problem is getting really bad. If we enforce our laws it will go away.

No it will not. The legal avenues of entering the country need to be completely revamped. The problem is one that requires rennovating immigration policy in our country. Enforcing the law is not always the answer.

If a person sees someone getting held up, they usually call the cops, because a crime is being committed. We need to call the law when we see people knowingly hiring illegals as well. We can't pick and choose our laws.

It is entirely false to assume that the people entering this country illegally are criminals. Mechanism of law and policy need to be closely considered to achieve real future results.

What I hear you saying is that the cost of mass deportation is not worth the effort. I completely agree. Who wouldn't want to come here?



No it will not. The legal avenues of entering the country need to be completely revamped. The problem is one that requires rennovating immigration policy in our country. Enforcing the law is not always the answer.



It is entirely false to assume that the people entering this country illegally are criminals. Mechanism of law and policy need to be closely considered to achieve real future results.

People entering the country illegaly are committing a crime, regardless of their intentions, and willingness to work hard.

I'm more concerned about the americans who are hiring them. that's where the enforcement is needed very badly. We need to make it undesirable to hire illegals.

But, you're right about our policies. we issue visas, and people overstay them. They can dodge the authorities for years if they choose, and they're not easy to locate either.