Recent Illegal Alien Round-Ups

[Ryan Ruck]

Immigration Officials Raid Houston Business

Immigration officials made a surprise visit to a northeast Houston business this morning and questioned about two dozen workers in what may be only one of several immigration raids in the city today. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement bus was parked in front of IFCO Systems on North McCarty Drive where several officials had gathered the workers. The company makes and repairs pallets, wooden structures used in shipping.

A woman stopped by to check on relatives who work at the company, including a cousin. "He doesn't have papers. They say he'll be deported back to El Salvador,'' said Ana Perez, who came by with her son, Carlos. ``I feel sad about this. Hopefully, he'll find another opportunity.'' Her cousin, Marvin Morelos, had worked six months for the company. She had not heard anything about her other relatives. Steve Hoard, a temporary driver for the company, had parked a company trailer by the side of the road, waiting to be let in. He said he was surprised the nationwide company would hire undocumented workers.

"When you see so many (Hispanics), you kind of figure it,'' he said. ``I figured with the hiring process, they probably screened them.'' Many of the workers take their morning coffee at a cafe next to M&M Pawn near the business, which Daniel Esquivel has run for six years. "I say this is repression of a people,'' he said. ``They are good workers.'' Lucia Andino's husband is documented, but a boy who has been living with them and has worked for the company for 1½ years is not. "This is an injustice, what they are doing. Imagine the conditions in which they are working here,'' she said, pointing to a stack of pallets next to the warehouse. ``Why don't they look for real criminals? An American would never repair a pallet for 25 cents. They would rather be unemployed.''

[Ryan Ruck]

Immigration Officials Raid Evendale Business [Cincinnati]

Federal immigration agents and local police raided an Evendale business Wednesday and arrested more than 30 people.

The raid happened at IFCO Systems on Evendale Drive in Evendale and police say they were looking for illegal immigrants.

After about an hour, agents left escorting two white vans but they declined to say who or how many people are in their custody.

A spokesperson for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement only released this statement:

"Today's arrests and detentions are part of an ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement worksite enforcement investigation. Because the enforcement actions are ongoing, we are unable to provide further details at this time."

The local division buys and sells pallets, but the company as a whole does business worldwide and is considered a market leader.

Dozens of people were also taken into custody at a southside Indianapolis company Wednesday as part of the nationwide crackdown on employers of illegal workers.

Gail Montenegro, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman in Chicago, says the arrests and detentions were part of a continuing investigation.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is expected to announce a new immigration enforcement strategy Thursday in Washington.

The raids targeted IFCO Systems, which makes reusable crates and pallets.

A telephone operator at the Indianapolis office referred all calls to the company's corporate headquarters in Houston, where a message seeking comment was left by The Associated Press.

Scores of IFCO employees also were arrested in Houston, Phoenix and Albany, New York, according to local news reports and two federal law enforcement officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

[Ryan Ruck]

Unfortunately, this now looks like all these raids were a bunch of lip service…

In fact, I heard on one talk show that up to 4/5 of all the illegals arrested under these raids were released.

Dozens Of Illegal Immigrants Arrested, Released In Hours

There was a crackdown Wednesday and dozens of illegal immigrants were arrested.

Many of those same immigrants were released just hours later

It was the last thing they, and their families, expected.

"They are not criminals. All they're here for is to work for their family," said Mariz Gomez.

And that's what they were doing making wooden pallets at two different locations when federal agents swooped in and took nearly 70 suspected undocumented workers to this federal detention center in north Houston.

"Just for them to come in here and to just throw them back to where they go. That's not right for them," said Gomez.

Families 11 News spoke with feared the men mostly from Central American countries would be deported.

But that was hardly the case.

Just five hours later Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents began releasing the undocumented workers.

"I was surprised by the quick release," said a man who asked that his face not be shown. Several others made the same request.

It is not clear why these immigrants were released so quickly but workers say it may be because the 950-bed facility was severely overcrowded.

The workers say they were told the facilities were full. Sources inside the facility say the same thing and that agents have been ordered to release immigrants as soon as possible.

Some of the workers say there were other problems Wednesday.

They said computers went down and agents had to scribble information, in one case, failing to write in a court date altogether.

The men we spoke with promised to show up for their immigration hearings, still finding it hard to believe they were released so soon.

[Brian Baldwin]

Basically the government is just patting us on the head while conducting business as usual. I have a feeling we'll only get action from the Minutemen in the end.

[falcon]

Another move by the Commie left. Well from now on anything I purchase if it is made in Mexico, I will put it in my shopping cart and when I check out I will tell the cashier I don't want the product because it is made in Mexico. Stop going to Mexico for Vacations etc. Money talks right.

Muslims to join pro-illegals protest in L.A.

Millions of activists expected to 'close' major cities May 1
Posted: April 28, 2006
1:00 a.m. Easter
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
Mexica Movement activists protest in L.A.

Muslims in Los Angeles and elsewhere are being urged to join millions of Latino protesters in the streets May 1 to demonstrate in favor of leniency toward illegal aliens currently living in the United States unlawfully.

"In solidarity with immigration activists around the country, the Muslim Public Affairs Council as well as the Council on American-Islamic Relations - Los Angeles, the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, the L.A. Latino Muslim Association, the Muslim American Society - Los Angeles, and the Muslim Students Association - West are calling on American Muslims to participate in a day of action on May 1, 2006," says a statement from the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

"Islam's message is one of social justice, economic fairness, and fair treatment in the workplace. The Quran urges the proper treatment and respect of workers."

Choosing May 1, the day Communists worldwide celebrate the worker, activists have vowed to "close" major American cities as millions of Latinos, both legal and illegal, mark what some organizers are calling "a day without an immigrant" and others refer to as the "Great American Boycott." They are urging supporters not to go to work, school or spend money on that day.

"It is to show the amount of work, the purchasing power, the contributions that illegal and undocumented workers make on a daily basis," Chris Banks, a volunteer for ANSWER, or Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, told the Desert Dispatch in California.

"RealIy, it is no different from the transit strike that took place in New York last December, and they shut the city down and it was to show the value of their work – the labor that they do," he said. "The labor they (illegal aliens) do for our collective well being is enormous."

The Muslim organization pushing participation is urging the faithful in Southern California to attend a march near downtown Los Angeles at 4 p.m. Monday.

"American Muslim organizations are calling for a comprehensive immigration reform that includes provisions for a pathway to lawful permanent residence for the undocumented currently in the United States, a temporary worker program that matches willing workers with willing employers, and a reduction in the current backlogs in family-based immigration to the United States," said the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

Failing to agree on an immigration reform bill earlier this month, members of Congress and President Bush continue to push various measures meant to deal with the flow of illegals into the country and those already here.

Jorge Rodriguez is a union official who helped organize earlier pro-illegals rallies.

"We want full amnesty, full legalization for anybody who is here (illegally)," Rodriguez told Reuters. "That is the message that is going to be played out across the country on May 1."

As WorldNetDaily reported, large protests held by pro-illegal-alien activists early this month actually had a negative effect on the demonstrators' cause, a poll found.

www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49947

[falcon]

Spanish 'Star-Spangled Banner' Draws Ire

Apr 28 2006
By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ
Associated Press Writer

MIAMI

British music producer Adam Kidron says that when he came up with the idea of a Spanish-language version of the U.S. national anthem, he saw it as an ode to the millions of immigrants seeking a better life.

But in the week since Kidron announced the song _ which features artists such as Wyclef Jean, hip-hop star Pitbull and Puerto Rican singers Carlos Ponce and Olga Tanon _ it has been the target of a fierce backlash.

Some Internet bloggers and others are infuriated by the thought of "The Star-Spangled Banner" sung in a language other than English.

"Would the French accept people singing the La Marseillaise in English as a sign of French patriotism? Of course not," said Mark Krikorian, head of the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that supports tighter immigration controls.

The initial version of "Nuestro Himno," or "Our Anthem," comes out Friday and uses lyrics based closely on the English-language original, said Kidron, who heads the record label Urban Box Office.

Pro-immigration protests are planned around the country for Monday, and the record label is urging Hispanic radio stations nationwide to play the cut at 7 p.m. EDT Friday in a sign of solidarity.

A remix to be released in June will contain several lines in English that condemn U.S. immigration laws. Among them: "These kids have no parents, cause all of these mean laws ... let's not start a war with all these hard workers, they can't help where they were born."

Bryanna Bevens of Hanford, Calif., who writes for the immigration-focused Web magazine Vdare.com, said the remix particularly upset her.

"It's very whiny. If you want to say all those things, by all means, put them on your poster board, but don't put them on the national anthem," she said.

Kidron, a U.S. resident for 16 years, maintains the changes are fitting. After all, he notes, American immigrants borrowed the melody of the "Star Spangled Banner" from an English drinking song.

"There's no attempt to usurp anything. The intent is to communicate," Kidron said. "I wanted to show my thanks to these people who buy my records and listen to the music we release and do the jobs I don't want to do."

Kidron said the song also will be featured on the album "Somos Americanos," which will sell for $10, with $1 going to the National Capital Immigration Coalition, a Washington group.

James Gardner, an associate director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, said Americans have long enjoyed different interpretations of the Star Spangled Banner, including country or gospel arrangements.

"There are a number of renditions that people aren't happy with, but that's part of it _ that it means enough for people to try to sing," he said.

Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Perez, said this country was built by immigrants, and "the meaning of the American dream is in that record: struggle, freedom, opportunity, everything they are trying to shut down on us."

www.townhall.com/news/ap/online/entertainment/music/D8H4QGDO2.html

[Ryan Ruck]

Yep, the Commies are really pushing for illegal immigration as it is sure to cause a Balkanization of America and result in much internal conflict which, in turn, will distract us from our many external threats.

[Ryan Ruck]

Some news local to me…

Illegal Immigrants Arrested In Butler County

The Butler County Sheriff has asked immigration officials for months to crack down on illegal immigrants.

On Thursday, he got his wish -- and says this is only the beginning.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers, known as ICE, arrested ten people in Middletown, West Chester, Fairfield and Hamilton.

Sheriff Richard Jones says we can expect similar round-ups in the future.

He says the purpose of Thursday's operation was to arrest people who are here illegally and wanted for serious crimes.

One man was convicted of trying to meet a teenager for sex and served prison time.

They say he was told to leave our country after he did his time. But he didn't, so they tracked him down and locked him up again.

"I've sent a message and I told [illegal immigrants] we were coming and we came today and this is only the beginning," said Sheriff Jones.

While looking for those wanted at homes and businesses, a few others were picked up for having fake documents.

An attorney who represents many people who are here illegally says he tells them if they're going to stay, become a legal citizens and obey the law.

Thursday's arrests come as the sheriff launched a new campaign, reminding businesses it's illegal to hire illegal workers.

Billboards will be going up around the county on Friday.

Sheriff Jones says he wants more round-ups but ICE can't do it without more aid from the federal government.

The people arrested Thursday are either in the Butler County Jail or in ICE custody at other jails in the area.

Hearings will be held and they are subject to deportation.