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Agents arrest 43 Mexican immigrants

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 3:34 PM CDT

HONOLULU (AP) � Federal agents arrested 43 illegal immigrant farm workers in Waipahu this week during a raid on an apartment complex.

Immigration and Customs special agent-in-charge Wayne Wills said it was the largest arrest in a single raid so far this year. He said all worked for a business called The Farms. Authorities believe the workers, all male, are from Mexico.

They were taken to the federal detention center in Honolulu pending deportation hearings.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is determining whether to file criminal charges in cases where the men provided false information to get hired, immigration officials said.

Those criminal charges carry up to five years in prison, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Hino.

Farmers said more places hire illegal immigrants than most people might think.

“There are probably more today then there were five years ago, and I mean it’s because they’re needed,” says Dean Okimoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Okimoto says many local farmers can’t find workers to do the hard labor anymore � not at a wage they can afford.

“I need at least probably eight more, and I can’t even find one,” he says.

Many farmers feel forced to look elsewhere.

“It’s not surprising at all because just to keep the farms going or to expand, it’s really difficult,” says Okimoto. “I do think immigrant workers are key to the agriculture industry. It’s how it’s survived all these years, even on the mainland.”

Honolulu City Councilmember Rod Tam said he believes illegal immigrant workers are a growing problem in Hawaii.

“It’s not right at all when you think about it. It’s not fair to many of us who pay our taxes,” says Tam. “I want everyone to abide the law. That’s the bottom line,” says Tam.

Wills said the arrests were part of a crackdown on employers who use illegal immigrants.

In May, immigration agents arrested 22 suspected illegal immigrant workers at two chain restaurants on Maui. A few months before that, immigration officials arrested 19 foreign nationals on immigration charges at a downtown Honolulu construction site and a Halawa warehouse.

Comments »

C L wrote on Aug 8, 2008 12:20 AM:

" These immigrant workers are tax-payers. According to the Social Security Administration, it is estimated that illegal immigrants have paid $450 billion to the SS security fund. Immigrant Households and Businesses Generate Billions: In 2005, immigrant households and businesses paid approximately $300 billion in federal, state, and local taxes: $165 billion in federal income taxes, $85 billion in state and local income taxes, and $50 billion in business taxes. Immigrants Pay More in Taxes Than They Use in Services Over Their Lifetimes: Depending on skills and level of education, each immigrant pays, on average, between $20,000 and $80,000 more in taxes than he or she consumes in public benefits. Seventy five percent of immigrants arrive in the United States when they are in their prime working years. With 80 million baby-boomers retiring in the next 20 years, most of them white, it will be these immigrants who will be suppor Social Security so that these elderly people won' die in poverty. "

kathy wrote on Aug 5, 2008 12:58 PM:

" Please, mexicans are the reason for stealing,raping,drugs,and murder here.
I would hope they are the only illegals, but I would not want to put money on it. "

jay mckim wrote on Aug 2, 2008 12:04 PM:

" Look here in main land in South CA
big city. When you see the mexican man
working in street, most of them are illegal. Illegals are taking over job market. Many job like construction, food service are mostly gone to Illegal and
Mexican. There is no longer job for legal
citizen. It's about time illegal Mexican
about to grow in Hawaii. "

Isabelle wrote on Aug 2, 2008 10:25 AM:

" I agree with Titiana,
If it wasn't for the mexican,s there would me no fruit or veg. picked. They come here to make a better living for them and their family,s and pick our food for us to eat. They also pay tax,s which don't receive back at income tax time like we do.Yes some get help with health care and food stamp's But there are also alot of white's and black's that receive them also. So what makes them better then we are?? Why cause we where born here? If you remember we stole this land from the Indians so we are no better. "

Carl Morey wrote on Jul 30, 2008 7:48 PM:

" 43 less, 11,999,957 to go...........

This is one of the examples why we need a comprehensive immigration reform , a reform that really enforce the law and solve the situation of the 12 million illegal immigrants , one thing is for sure WE ARE NEVER GOING TO DEPORT 12 MILLION we are talking of the population of the size of Ohio. "

Tatiana wrote on Jul 26, 2008 9:44 PM:

" These so called "illegal immigrants"

Why call them like that?

we need them as much as we need our family..c'mon don't you freakin' read the article..even a HAwaiian thinks so.

But i don't base my question on that..i mean without mexican far workers..you wouldn't be eating SALADS..that grown oN THE FARM..FRESH FRUIT and etc.

and i wouldn't judge if i were you..illegal immigrants have a life like we do..we all want a better life..
and accomplishements and for that they come to U.S.A..

SO TELL ME WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE? "

SPQR_US wrote on Jul 25, 2008 4:27 PM:

" Thank you ICE!!!!

It is time ot rid our streets of these thieving, raping, drug dealing and murderous illegal aliens.

I welcome legal immigration not lawlessness and fraud. "

Mike wrote on Jul 25, 2008 3:35 PM:

" US citizens should realize how much it is costing us to deal with illegals. Not only do we pay for their apprehension and their litigation "rights", but also any medical needs they have,"room & board" costs and home transportation expenses. Most illegals come to the US to earn a living and of course our social services are a bonus for them. Penalties for hiring illegals are not severe enough and no deterrent. Employers should be fined heavily and jailed. They are the ones who profit from and encourage illegals. Also our social services should be unavailable to illegals. The illegal immigration trouble comes down to money. No money to earn, no problem. "

Carla Mollica wrote on Jul 25, 2008 10:54 AM:

" OMG!! They're like cockroaches - everwhere! "

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