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Ear to the Ground

New, Softer Approach to Illegal Workers

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Posted on Jul 3, 2009
Legalize LA
flickr.com

Legalize LA is an immigrant rights campaign underwritten by American Apparel that has now gone national.

The immigration raids of the Bush years that have carried over into the Obama administration may be changing. The era of federal agents busting into shops and rounding up undocumented workers for deportation is being replaced by a new effort to use fines and civil sanctions, making employers responsible, rather than the workers themselves.

The new effort, exemplified by the way immigration officials approached clothing manufacturer American Apparel, is oddly timed given the raids in Los Angeles just last week.

The New York Times:

Immigration authorities had bad news this week for American Apparel, the T-shirt maker based in downtown Los Angeles: About 1,800 of its employees appeared to be illegal immigrants not authorized to work in the United States.

But in contrast to the high-profile raids that marked the enforcement approach of the Bush administration, no federal agents with criminal warrants stormed the company’s factories and rounded up employees. Instead, the federal immigration agency sent American Apparel a written notice that it faced civil fines and would have to fire any workers confirmed to be unauthorized.

The treatment of American Apparel, which has more than 5,600 factory employees in Los Angeles alone, is the most prominent demonstration of a new strategy by the Obama administration to curb the employment of illegal immigrants by focusing on employers who hire them — and doing so in a less confrontational manner than in years past.

Unlike the approach of the Bush administration, which brought criminal charges in its final two years against many illegal immigrant workers, the new effort makes broader use of fines and other civil sanctions, federal officials said Thursday.

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By Outraged, July 6, 2009 at 5:44 am #

A move in the right direction, now lets seriously go after the BULLIES.  The owners, they OWN you….. remember…..  I believe another portion is… “and they’ll get all”....

Stand up, America.

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By rockinrobin, July 5, 2009 at 11:00 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

99.9 percent of what you SEE, HEAR and READ in the USA is fabricated lies folks; Gordon Smith, while in office, sent me a letter stating he to was concerned over the # of illegals: all the WHILE in OREGON where he was from, there was ALL KINDS of $ at both Fed & ST level for them; they were given brand new cars/trucks/money, job preferences, food stamps, no interest pay back whenever you can: all the while CITIZENS were OVERBILLED for everything: as they have always been;
Manipulation of market & media; tyranny, bullies, abuse of people, & misuse of law: see, when the GOV is CRIMINALLY RUN as THAT is the AGENDA: of the “so called” 2 party system who runs the USA like a “large plantation”; with CORPS whom they have criminalized: and like them all get immunity: backed up by a so called “judicial” system who backs up their criminal activity: see, when the “prices” go UP: in reality: it is ONLY to DECEIVE the PUBLIC: just like everything else is.
In my state: returning vets do to “no $” got 13 beds to share with women/children; our Gov & Congress had started an anti American vet: they all had “mental issues”; illegals got Drivers Licenses, and brand new low income apartment complexes built for them; but DO NOT BLAME THE IMMIGRANTS: blame the ROOT CAUSE of the PROBLEM: just like the HOUSING etc: it is due to a CORRUPT and CRIMINALLY RUN GOVERNMENT: who is running from country to country to carry out Hitlers agenda so ALL will be “just like a large plantation”;
Thats why they tell you you are “free” so much: propaganda. FREE trade does NOT benefit the PEOPLE nor the ENVIRONMENT; FAIR trade does;
THIS is NOT FAIR: it is “free”; for anyone, anywhere anytime & anyplace to do whatever they choose as long as it’s against the PEOPLE of the USA; and now on to globally.
They honestly THINK they can go into nations; set up this SAME CORRUPT SYSTEM: bombing & slaughtering thousands, torturing (oops, sorry: enhanced interrogation) and then throw $ at them, and think THAT can “cure” the PROBLEM.
Just like the ongoing slaughter in Gaza: only the USA benefitted didn’t it? and their plan? to bring many over from Gaza to give “the American” dream?????
What PART of the “childish” things: called small human beings: children: did you want us to “put away” Mr. President? The arms/legs/limbs? The brains splattered on the mothers breast? Oh, but MONEY is the GAME: like an ADDICT you CRIMINALS and CROOKS who wonder WHY folks CARE about OTHERS who are HUMAN BEINGS: get a high; and y’all are WORSE despots than HITLER: you have taken HIS agenda, everything he did; and TAKEN it up 10 levels; oh, “changing” your “image?????” But you are “supposedly” a “force for good”; running around “aiding” and “helping” everyone” Why EVER would you want to CHANGE your “image”?
The AMERICAN PEOPLE really & truly DESERVE to KNOW.

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