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April 10, 2008
Villaraigosa: Immigration Raids Could Have 'Severe and Long-Lasting Effects'
Yesterday, ICE raided the Concord English Language Learning Center in the Wilshire District. Behzad "Ben" Zaman, 50, who ran two schools in LA, was arrested on charges that he used his English language schools as a front to get student visas for Russian prostitutes and other ineligible foreigners. While this raid may have been legitimate, other recent raids are raising concerns with local politicians and community members (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
It's about time Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa goes public on the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the Los Angeles area. Last week, 60 workers were arrested on immigration violations in Torrance and 130 undocumented workers were busted in Van Nuys back in February. Nationwide, 4,900 work-site arrests occurred in the 2007 fiscal year, a 45% increase since 2001.
The next local target could be a big one: American Apparel. ICE recently made an inquiry about the clothing company's hiring procedures. If a raid were to happen on the company, it could affect over 2,000 people.
Villaraigosa points out the raids could affect the local economy. For each worker arrested, a family usually is attached to that worker's income and it becomes a domino effect.
In a letter to Department of Homeland Security dated March 27, Villaraigosa pointed the finger to ederal official for cherry picking "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."
The mayor rather see ICE target employers who exploit their workers with low wages and long hours and criminals gang members. However, an ICE representative told the LA Times that they believe they are "prioritizing appropriately... This is not random. The types of arrests that are made are well thought out."
Then please help the gang problem and be "well thought out" about it.
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This issue makes me sick to my stomach. Its about time the mayor said something... anything...
These raids are horrible.
For more information about it visit the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) website. There is also a powerful video abou the Movement Vision Lab Raid on YouTube HERE
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"While this raid may have been legitimate"
and
"Last week, 60 workers were arrested on immigration violations in Torrance and 130 undocumented workers were busted."
All this seems pretty cut and dry.
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Los Angeles needs to throw out of office Mayor R. Villaraigosa, all the city managers and lieutenants, including the Chief of police who conspires with special interest groups who uphold Special Order 40.
The absence of "Rule of Law" relating to protecting millions of illegal aliens in Los Angeles county as a Sanctuary City.
Mr. Rubenstein, a former director of research at the Hudson Institute, a nonpartisan policy research organization, said U.S. taxpayers paid more than $9,000 for each immigrant in the country, a third of whom are believed to be in the U.S. illegally.
In addition, more than 37 million immigrants in the United States, both legal and illegal, cost the federal government more than $346 billion last year, twice as much as the nation's fiscal deficit, according to a report released yesterday.
The loss estimates, the report said, included $100 billion in federal taxes lost "from the reduction of native incomes caused by immigrant workers." He also stated that even programs that are not usually associated with immigration, he said, have actually added financial burdens to the taxpayers.
In California Assemblywoman Mimi Walters, a Republican from Oceanside, said illegal immigrants cost California taxpayers an estimated $9 billion each year.
Each and every voter have a substantial interest in the progression and success of constructing the border fence. It will slow the movement of smuggled drugs into our country, restrain millions of illegal aliens many being convicted felons.
We are receiving pure propaganda, spin or rhetoric of from the pro-illegal immigrant zealots. Read the forums, bulletin boards and comments? You will quickly learn that predator employers are hiring illegal immigrants, because its cheaper and they don't have to pay out of their profits. Not only are illegals stealing African-Americans jobs, but all of our citizens. They are taking the jobs of a wide spectrum of American workers, with no consequences.
More than 10 million immigrants have arrived since year 2000; it is estimated that nearly 6 million are illegal. All told, the group of immigrants now account for 38 million at the moment according to the White House's own census bureau.
All patriot Americans no matter their political affiliation should DEMAND YOUR BORDER FENCE IS COMPLETED! In addition Demand your Democratic representative co-author the SAVE ACT. Go to NUMBERSUSA to read the raw facts.
BUILD THE BORDER FENCE PETITION at Grassfire
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Stop VAWA based immigration fraud! The majority of VAWA cases are simply fraud perpetuated by dishonest residency seekers and organizations who benefit from the Billion in funding.
http://seansevah.blogspot.com
Voice of American Immigration Fraud Victims
A unified group of American men and women that have been victimized by foreign spouses that have circumvented the American immigration system.
http://www.immigrationfraudvictims.us/
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Brittanicus:
- Which report is this that you are quoting from extensively? You make no mention of the source of this report.
- Where did Mimi Walters get her numbers?
- "Not only are illegals stealing African-Americans jobs, but all of our citizens."
Why do you automatically assume that illegal immigrants (which I assume to you is code for Mexican) are taking African American jobs?
P.S.- I assume illegal immigrant is code for Mexican given your strong stance to "demand a border fence." Because I am positive all illegal immigrants are entering from there. There is no way any illegal immigrants come from Canada.