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Federal officials are cracking down on illegal immigrants in Portland due to an increasing number of identity theft crimes. Undocumented immigrants are now going one step beyond the usual use of fake green cards and Social Security Numbers. They are now stealing identities of other American residents in the area.
This new act was spurred on a recent invasion of a Monte Produce plant in North Portland which led to the detainment of 167 workers. This has put a roadblock in front of illegal immigrants because now it is much harder to find jobs.
Kevin Sibley, the Unit Chief for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said, “Aliens are finding it more difficult to find jobs using the traditional counterfeit documents. So they are willing to commit the extra step to beat the system and get a job. The next step is using someone else’s identity.”
A federal search warrant affidavit revealed that American Staffing Resources, a temporary staffing agency, employed over 400 illegal immigrants that used imposter Social Security Numbers last year. This year the number dropped to over 100.
Many of the social security numbers are those belonging to children, elderly and those who had died.
Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forcers have been initiated in 11 U.S. cities to crack down on the use of counterfeit documents and identity theft for employment. This force has been initiated to prevent the manufacture, sale and use of counterfeit and genuine documents said James Spero, the chief of the ICE”s Identity and Benefit Fraud Unit.
Spero also added, “It’s a major problem. We have document vending and manufacturing investigations open in every major U.S. city. IF there is a need, then there are vendors who will supply the documents.”
Large criminal organizations are behind this massive fraudulent ring. They have contacts all over the United States that manufacture and sale these false documents. Franciso Javier Miranda-Espinosa was caught by the ICE task force. He is a member of one of these massive criminal rings, the Castorena Family Organization. This family organization has been found in all 50 states.
Not only is the government cracking down on false documents, they are also pushing to prosecute immigrants who commit identity theft crimes. ICE agents raided six Swift and Co. meatpacking plants in six states. Over 1200 immigrants were arrested and prosecuted. Because of the volume, some were allowed to plead to lesser charges to prevent courtroom overflow.
The question arises, why do these U.S. Companies allow this practice.
According to attorney Ronault L.S. Catalani, he said, “This is the status quo, it’s part of our state’s business practice. Employers look the other way, because undocumented workers generate good money and there’s no clear due diligence standard in how to follow the law.” |
