The Times has an editorial this morning discussing the essay of Professor Erik Caymard-Freixas, the translator I honored as yesterday's Immigrant of the Day. The Times editorial writers have strong words to describe their outrage:
Anyone who has doubts that this country is abusing and terrorizing undocumented immigrant workers should read an essay by Erik Camayd-Freixas,a professor and Spanish-language court interpreter who witnessed the aftermath of a huge immigration workplace raid at a meatpacking plant in Iowa.
The essay chillingly describes what Dr. Camayd-Freixas saw and heard as he translated for some of the nearly 400 undocumented workers who were seized by federal agents at the Agriprocessors kosher plant in Postville in May.
Under the old way of doing things, the workers, nearly all Guatemalans, would have been simply and swiftly deported. But in a twist of Dickensian cruelty, more than 260 were charged as serious criminals for using false Social Security numbers or residency papers, and most were sentenced to five months in prison.
What is worse, Dr. Camayd-Freixas wrote, is that the system was clearly rigged for the wholesale imposition of mass guilt. He said the court-appointed lawyers had little time in the raids’ hectic aftermath to meet with the workers, many of whom ended up waiving their rights and seemed not to understand the complicated charges against them.
I have not heard that theory.
Posted by: Greg SIskind | July 14, 2008 at 09:56 AM
greg,
is there any reason why you dropped the latest visa bulletin move. there is a rumour that their motive is to skip 2 year eads for majority of the people rather than approving more than 50K applications.!!!!!
Posted by: john | July 14, 2008 at 08:54 AM
What about the SS numbers that do not actually exist but yield the government about 7 million annually and has amounted to over $100 million in SS un-match contributions I do not think the feds are to upset about that!!
Posted by: Another voice | July 14, 2008 at 07:49 AM
"People who've gone through having their ID stolen might disagree."
What about deadbeats who sold wheir numbers so they rack up SS credits? I doubt they will disagree.
Posted by: Legal and no longer waiting | July 14, 2008 at 07:36 AM
'But there is a profound difference between stealing people’s identities to rob them of money and property, and using false papers to merely get a job.'
People who've gone through having their ID stolen might disagree.
Posted by: Jack | July 14, 2008 at 03:49 AM
Oh well. Just don't mess with ICE, and don't work illegally.
Posted by: paul | July 13, 2008 at 09:45 PM