Illegal Immigration Crackdown Just a ploy, or a sign of real enforcement to come?
The Department of Homeland Security (D.H.S.) completed sweeping raids at multiple U.S. plants run by a Netherlands owned company that manufactures shipping pallets and crates. The raids snared over a thousand illegal aliens as well as nine corporate managers who had conspired to employ the illegals, flaunting Social Security Administration (S.S.A.) rules and other federal, state and local employment laws.
Over half of the company's 5,300 employees were using fake Social Security numbers and the company had received numerous warning letters from the S.S.A. in the months leading up to the raid. Nationwide, the S.S.A. has sent out over one hundred thousand letters to employers, but such information regarding ficticious Social Security accounts is considered by the agency to be "confidential" and - therefore, not shared with immigration (or other law enforcement) authorities.
Given the current level of rhetoric throughout the nation - on all sides of the illegal immigration issue - amid growing anger and frustration of Americans over lack of any meaningful border security measures coming out of Congress (or the Bush Administration) some political analysts are questioning whether these raids are merely "window-dressing" designed to ameliorate the more vocal factions among us. I certainly hope such is not the case.
Whether or not there is a consensus in America for the construction of a physical wall along our porous southern border, there does seem to be an overwhelming sentiment - even among many "legal" immigrant American constituencies - that something meaningful must be done. Perhaps strict application of our laws against illegal hiring and Social Security (as well as other social, economic and political benefits) fraud perpetrated in the name of cheap, undocumented labor is one cost-effective answer.
If so, however, it must be brought about through rigorous monitoring and enforcement. Not just the occasional "photo-op" raid and press release designed to placate the public and give the illusion that our government is really doing something to strengthen our domestic security against terrorism; as well as finally stemming the tide of illegals streaming into our nation that burdens our social service systems and depresses the wages of our middle class.
If the Bush Administration seriously wants to regain any of its domestic credibility, then this move toward real enforcement must begin with substantial additional hiring and training of agents dedicated to investigation and enforcement; as well as promoting necessary changes to promote information sharing of relevant employment information between the various agencies and much more severe financial disincentives to employers (e.g., stiff corporate fines and forfeitures of assets).
Increased border surveillance and security measures must also be undertaken. But reducing the ease of undocumented employment opportunities for the flood of illegals is indeed a step in the right direction.
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