INS Nabs 62 Illegal Workers
April 19, 2001
SEATTLE - A U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service
investigation nabbed 62 illegal workers at an Everett
manufacturing plant Wednesday night. The 45 men and 17 women
were employees of Kelly Services and Selectron Inc. Neither
company violated any laws according to an INS company records
audit. Their hiring practices, as they relate to immigration
law, are not in question either.
The 57 Indonesians and five Mexicans presented fraudulent
documents to gain employment. All but one of the illegal workers
were released pending their removal hearing. One undocumented
worker had previously been deported and is being detained at the
INS detention facility on Airport Way.
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 made it
illegal to hire undocumented workers and required employers to
view citizenship documents from all employees, including U.S.
citizens. Penalties for employers hiring illegal workers range
from $1,000 to $10,000 per worker depending on the number
offenses. Both companies are fully cooperating with the INS.
INS busts dozens of illegal immigrants
EVERETT. Agents raided an Everett manufacturing plant early
Thursday morning. Inside they found 62 illegal immigrants hard
at work. Authorities say the plant operator had no idea.
REPORTED BY Gary Chittim (RESOURCES The INS
Online)
Immigration and Naturalization Service agents capped off an
investigation when they rounded up dozens of workers who they
say used fake documents to get jobs. This was a big operation
and even the INS was urprised by what it found.
Solectron Inc. is a big plant. The Everett manufacturing
facility employs more than 900 workers who make circuit boards
and other computer components.
INS agents say the company and its hiring agent, Kelly
Services, got duped by illegal immigrants mostly from Indonesia,
who used sophisticated fake documents to get jobs. It has all
the signs of an organized crime ring.
The INS says Solectron and Kelly Services are innocent
victims and will not be fined. As for the illegal workers, they
were processed and released pending their removal hearings.
They're not being held despite being candidates to flee
prosecution.
The reality of the situation is the INS holding facilities
are already full to capacity and it is very expensive to hold
illegal immigrants. The INS just hopes to stem the flow by
eliminating the job opportunities for undocumented workers.
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