From the 10/24/05 Journal-News:

 

Local officials turn sights on illegals

Jones, Fox, Combs announce tough new measures

By Mary Lolli

Butler County Bureau

 

HAMILTON — Less than 24 hours after President George W. Bush announced a national initiative to reduce the numbers of illegal aliens living in the United States, Butler County officials launched its own initiative to rid the county of undocumented, foreign-born residents.

 

In a joint press conference Friday morning, Sheriff Richard K. Jones, county Commissioner Michael Fox and state Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, announced a multi-tiered program they said is the first of its kind in the country.

 

For starters, beginning on Monday Jones will be requiring a declaration of citizenship from all inmates booked into the county jail.  Meanwhile, Combs is drafting new state legislation that will make it a state offense for illegal aliens to cross over Ohio’s borders.  For his part, Fox is working on initiatives to discourage employers from hiring illegal aliens.

 

MORE: http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/10/22/HJN1022ILLEGALS_s.html

 

From the 10/27/05 Dayton Daily News:

 

Butler bills U.S. for jailed immigrants

By Mary Lolli

Cox News Service

 

HAMILTON | The federal government will soon receive the first of several bills from Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones for the housing of suspected illegal immigrants in the county jail.  Following through on a threat made last week, Jones on Wednesday mailed a bill for $71,610 to the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the cost of housing 15 "undocumented" people, some of whom have been in the jail since June.

 

Last week, Jones, Butler County Commissioner Michael Fox and state Rep. Courtney Combs announced a multi-tiered initiative to eliminate illegal immigrants living in the county and throughout Ohio.  Among the initiatives was the start, on Monday, of a booking process to include having inmates sign declarations of citizenship.

 

To force the issue, Jones is billing the government $70 a day for every illegal immigrant at the jail — $10 above the average daily cost of housing an inmate.  Jones said he's hoping other sheriff's offices throughout the nation follow suit.  A message left with Greg Palmore of the ICE regional office was not returned.

 

MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/1027jailbill.html

 

From the 11/7/05 Hamilton JournalNews:

 

Combs, Fox at odds on language with immigration issue

 

HAMILTON — State Rep. Courtney Combs Monday criticized county Commissioner Michael Fox’s comments about illegal immigrants, but Fox said Combs is hardly one to talk when he has proposed a bill to make Ohio an English-only state.

 

The two political leaders stood together with Sheriff Richard K. Jones Oct. 21 to announce a multi-tiered initiative to crack down on illegal immigration.  As a part of the plan, Jones will require a declaration of citizenship from all county jail prisoners and charge the federal government $70 a day for each undocumented prisoner.  Combs (R-Hamilton) is drafting legislation that will make it a state offense for illegal aliens to cross Ohio’s borders.  And Fox is working on initiatives to discourage employers from hiring undocumented residents.

 

But now the two local leaders stand apart.  Combs said Monday Fox’s comments during the Oct. 21 announcement may have marred the well-intended initiative.

 

MORE: http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/11/07/hjn1108immigrants_s.html

 

From the AP, 11/26/05:

 

Taking a stand against illegals

By Dan Sewell

Associated Press

 

HAMILTON, Ohio - Far from the southwest U.S. borders with Mexico, states and counties are making their own stands against illegal immigration.

 

In southwest Ohio's Butler County, some leaders want state legislation that would make it a state crime of trespass to be here illegally and would allow local authorities to boot illegal aliens out of the state. The sheriff has challenged federal authorities by sending them a bill for undocumented immigrant inmates and erected large yellow signs outside the jail announcing: "Illegal Aliens Here."

 

In Arkansas, the Legislature wants police to get training in immigration enforcement. One county in Idaho has filed a federal racketeering suit against four companies accused of employing illegal immigrants. Lawmakers in North Carolina are pushing to make it tougher for illegal aliens to get driver's licenses, and in Virginia, some politicians want to cut off all benefits for illegals.

 

MORE: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051126/NEWS01/511260348/1010/RSS01

 

From the 12/16/05 Dayton Daily News:

 

Sheriff sends bill for housing illegals

 

HAMILTON | Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones has sent a second bill to the federal government for housing suspected illegal aliens in the county jail.  Jones mailed the bill last Friday to the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for $30,030 to cover housing 35 suspected illegal aliens during November.

 

MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/1216sheriff.html

 

---

From the 12/17/05 Enquirer:

 

Ring made fake IDs, police say

Five illegal immigrants arrested in Fairfield

By Sheila McLaughlin

Enquirer staff writer

 

HAMILTON - A traffic stop has led police closer to what they believe is a ring that provides fake IDs to help illegal immigrants get jobs, driver's licenses and other services here.  The case began to jell Dec. 9 after an officer pulled over Carlos Mateo, 21, for a traffic violation in Fairfield and found he had a fake Social Security number on a state identification card.  That led authorities Thursday to Mateo's Woodsfield Court residence in Fairfield, where three women and a man - all illegal immigrants who lived there - were arrested on state and federal charges.

 

MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051217/NEWS01/512170354/1056/rss02

 

From the 2/2/06 Hamilton JournalNews:

 

Plan aims to curb illegals from working in county

 

HAMILTON — One county official cracking down on illegal aliens is not enough and Butler County could take the lead on the issue, County Commissioner Michael Fox has proposed.

 

Just days after Sheriff Richard K. Jones received national attention for billing the federal government for housing suspected illegal aliens in the county jail, Fox made a proposal Thursday to deter the construction industry from employing illegal residents.

 

However, Fox’s fellow commissioners are not agreeable to spending more money to enforce the proposed building code or placing additional burden on building inspectors to ensure compliance. Plus, the president of the local home builders association said builders should not be used to enforce immigration laws.

 

MORE: http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/02/02/hjn020306aliens_s.html

 

From the 2/12/06 Enquirer:

 

Illegals frustrate law officials

They seek more local action, but others don't want to cast suspicion on all Hispanics

BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Butler County's proposed crackdowns against illegal immigrants could do more harm than good, critics say, by casting suspicion on all Hispanics including those legally living and working here.

 

Since last fall, county leaders have floated various proposals for stepping up local action against illegal immigration, contending that people crossing poorly enforced national borders pose an economic and a national security threat.

 

Some have urged state lawmakers to create a trespassing law to allow local authorities to deport illegals, especially those who end up in jail for crimes committed here. More recently, Butler County leaders have proposed requiring home builders to sign pledges not to hire illegals and to require document checks for those seeking vendor licenses.

 

MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060212/NEWS01/602120362/1056/rss02

 

Fighting to live the American dream

Monday, March 27, 2006

Misti Crane

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Two boys no taller than their mothers’ waists jousted on the Statehouse lawn yesterday afternoon.  One brandished an American flag; the other, the flag of Mexico.  Their play battle went unnoticed by the sea of cheering, chanting, praying, poster-board-waving grownups around them.  Signs floated atop a crowd that grew into the thousands: "This country was built on immigration." "Human beings are not illegal." "Jesus would be a felon." Spanish-speaking voices united in booming chants: "United people will never be defeated! " "Bush! Listen! We are in a fight! "

 

And again and again, from the workers, from those still learning their ABCs and from those too old to work any longer, the farm workers’ motto: "Si se puede!" (Yes we can!)  The crowd, drawn from across the state, joined nationwide protests against a proposal to build fences between Mexico and the United States; make it more difficult for undocumented immigrants to live and work here; and punish those who hire or otherwise help them.

 

In Columbus, speakers reminded the largely immigrant gathering of its contribution to the economy — to restaurants, construction crews and farms and into a social security system from which they can’t collect.

 

MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/03/27/20060327-A1-03.html

 

From the 4/11/06 Hamilton JournalNews:

 

Ryan: Immigration must be addressed

By Lisa A. Bernard

 

HAMILTON — As national headlines cling to the topic of immigration reform and local forums continue to be held, Hamilton’s top elected official said the issue is a “critical” one for his city.  “We can’t continue to stick our heads in the sand and hope it will go away,” said Hamilton Mayor Don Ryan.  “There’s some tough questions that have to be answered and some even tougher issues that have to be addressed with how we deal with the immigration issue.”

 

From the exploitation of immigrant workers to elaborate efforts taken to stay here illegally, Ryan said his concerns run the gamut when it comes to need for immigration reform.  “I’m a firm believer that if you choose to live here, then you need to choose to be a citizen of this country and learn the language and abide by our rules and regulations,” he said.  “I realize for some who are here illegally, it’s not their fault as much as it is others who bring them in as cheap labor. That’s not right either.... I think we are seeing that locally. We’re just a small part of what’s happening all across the country and it needs to be addressed.”

 

MORE: http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/news/stories/2006/04/11/hjn041106acluside_s.html

 

From the 4/21/06 Middletown Journal:

 

Sheriff urges boycots of business that hire illegals

Jones: Feds will share cost of housing illegals

Cox News Service

 

Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones plans to ask for a boycott on county businesses that hire illegal immigrants, it was reported late Thursday night.  In addition, Jones said the Immigration and Naturalization Service has agreed to help share the cost of housing illegal immigrants in the county jail, according to Local 12 WKRC.

 

Jones said he plans to ask county residents to ask businesses “Are you in the practice of hiring illegal immigrants? And if they are, don’t do business with them,” Jones told Local 12 Thursday night.  Jones also said county businesses that hire illegal immigrants should expect the type of raids that were executed at a business in Evendale earlier this week, Local 12 reported.  Immigration and Customs officials arrested 33 people Wednesday at IFCO Systems on Evendale Drive.

 

MORE: http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/04/21/MJ042106JONESIMM.html

 

ones said he plans to ask county residents to ask businesses “Are you in the practice of hiring illegal immigrants? And if they are, don’t do business with them,” Jones told Local 12 Thursday night.

 

Jones also said county businesses that hire illegal immigrants should expect the type of raids that were executed at a business in Evendale earlier this week, Local 12 reported. Immigration and Customs officials arrested 33 people Wednesday at IFCO Systems on Evendale Drive.

 

This is where the focus should be, making it tough on buisnessess who hire illegals.

 

The sheriff should take out adds in the local paper publicizing lists of buisnessess who do this and asking that people not patronize them...apparenlty the sheriff has the intel on who is employing the illegals.

 

Online 4/27/06:

 

Breaking News: Sheriff's Office rounding up illegals

 

BUTLER COUNTY — Agents from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement are canvassing the Butler County area today with arrest warrants for alleged illegal aliens who have committed “serious” criminal offenses aside from possible immigration violations.  Two teams containing personnel from both agencies are searching residences and businesses in Hamilton, Fairfield, Middletown and West Chester Township. 

 

According to Sheriff Richard K. Jones, the round-up is specifically targeting suspected illegals who have been charged with or convicted of offenses such as domestic violence, felonious assault or who have been deemed by the courts as a sexual predator.  In addition to local criminal charges, those arrested in today’s round-up will face deportation hearings initiated by customs officials.

 

MORE: http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/news/stories/2006/04/27/HJN042706ROUNDUPWEB.html

Towards the beginning of the semester, I got lost driving around in Hamilton by myself. I can't begin to tell you were I was, but all I know is that I saw a sign that "Illegal Aliens here" with an arrow pointing down a driveway I was headed. It was something like the Butler County prison. I thought it was hillarious that they actually had a sign. I wish I had my camera that night. I saw a lot of really odd things down there.

Shouldn't the sheriff be arresting anyone who has committed a serious crimal offense?  This reaks of scapegoat politics.

What's a warden burger?

From the 4/28/06 Hamilton JournalNews:

 

Some question timing, others support sheriff

 

BUTLER COUNTY — The Butler County Sheriff’s Office round up of criminals living in the country illegally is drawing mixed reaction from community leaders and legal experts.  Some question the timing while others said Sheriff Richard K. Jones was simply doing his job.

 

“It seems to be an inauspicious time ... for this,” said Shelly Jarrett Bromberg, organizing director of the Butler County Community Alliance. “How on earth are they able to identify unauthorized illegal aliens ... unless they’re racially profiling or asking everyone (for citizenship documents) regardless of their race?”

 

The sheriff’s office — along with Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents — conducted the sweep Thursday. Those arrested have prior offenses such as domestic violence, felonious assault or being a convicted sexual predator, according to deputies.

 

MORE: http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/04/27/HJN042806ROUNDUPREAX_s.html

 

From the 4/29/06 Middletown Journal:

 

Billboards signal sheriff's warning

Ads create awareness of penalties for hiring illegal immigrants

 

If Butler County employers haven’t gotten his message yet, Sheriff Richard K. Jones now is spelling it out in big letters posted on billboards — he’s coming after those who hire illegal immigrants.

 

On Friday, crews mounted Jones’ warning on a billboard along southbound Interstate 75, just north of the Ohio 129 interchange.  The warning also will be posted on five other billboards throughout the county within the next few weeks, said sheriff’s office spokesman Sgt. Monte Mayer.

 

Jones in recent weeks has spent $10,000 in Furtherance of Justice funding for an advertising campaign warning business owners about the consequences of hiring illegal immigrants.

 

MORE: http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/04/29/MJ042906ROUNDUPFOLO.html

 

From the 5/5/06 Hamilton JournalNews:

 

Tougher stance on illegals debated

By Candice Brooks

Staff Writer

 

HAMILTON — As immigration reform continues to be an issue debated on Capital Hill and in streets across the country, Butler County Commissioner Michael Fox said Thursday local governments can do more than spectate.  Fox resurrected his proposal to crack down on builders hiring illegal immigrants and suggested an action plan the county can use to improve enforcement of federal laws against the employment of undocumented workers.  Fox’s 10 action steps:

 

* Require applicants for building permits to sign a pledge that they will not employ illegal workers.

* Require construction subcontractors to also sign declarations.

* Direct the county’s 11 building inspectors to report suspected violations to the Immigration and Naturalization Service or Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

* Prosecute and fine employers for falsification and other offenses if ultimately cited by federal immigration agencies.

* Require notices of the federal law on employment of illegal workers to be posted on the job site and charge fines if not posted.

* Apply to the INS to authorize local law enforcement officers to act as immigration officers to conduct investigations, arrest, and detain aliens in Butler County, as provided in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.

* File a lawsuit in federal court against federal agencies to be reimbursed for cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants.

* Use a county auditor’s employee, as offered by the auditor, to conduct random checks of employee records.

* Designate the sheriff’s office as the lead agency to work in partnership with federal immigration agencies.

* Direct building inspectors to keep record of pledges and referral of citations, and establish a Web site for anonymous reports.

 

Fox first proposed his idea in early February, just as Sheriff Richard K. Jones gained national attention for billing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the cost of housing suspected illegal inmate in the county jail.

 

MORE: http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/05/05/hjn050506foximmigration.html

 

From the 5/6/06 Enquirer:

 

ACLU eyes ban on illegals

BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

HAMILTON - Butler County's latest crackdown on illegal immigrants has grabbed the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union.  Butler County leaders are moving forward with a plan to require anyone who seeks a building permit to sign a pledge not to hire illegal immigrants.  Random job site inspections also would be conducted by the Butler County Auditor's Office, with results reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

 

Butler leaders plan to spend several weeks asking home builders, Hispanic groups and others to weigh in on the proposal.  They also plan to hold public meetings with federal immigration officials and Butler's sheriff and prosecutor's offices.

 

But after learning about Butler County's plan Friday, Link said the ACLU is closely watching this proposal.  If the plan is adopted as it stands, the agency contends it would be illegal.  The group also would be willing to file a legal challenge, Link said.

 

MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060506/NEWS01/605060397/1056/rss02

 

According to Billy Cunningham on 700 WLW, 85 illegal immigrants employed by Fischer Homes have been arrested (probably to be processed and released), along with company executives (who will be arrested and held).  Can't find any news stories on it yet, but I'd imagine it'll hit soon.  He was interviewing a reporter for some local station (didn't catch what station) who said they were going to do their story at 4pm...

A friend found a story:

 

 

Undocumented Fischer Homes Workers Arrested

Reported by: Deb Haas

First posted: 5/9/2006 1:29:47 PM

Last updated: 5/9/2006 1:41:45 PM

 

Police have taken at least 85 people into custody in connection with an investigation of Fischer Homes.  The investigation, which has been going on for two years, involves the hiring of undocumented workers and illegal aliens, Channel 9's Deb Haas reports.

 

Haas reports most of those arrested are laborers, but some employees at Fischer's headquarters in Crestview Hills were also taken into custody.  Investigators were also in other areas of Northern Kentucky earlier Tuesday, "rounding up" illegal immigrants, police said.  It's not clear how the investigations tie together.

 

MORE: http://www.wcpo.com/news/2006/local/05/09/fischer.html

This could probably happen to almost any company in the area that employs manual laborers.  It sucks, but these immigrants are the only ones willing to do the work.

 

 

If we had progressive leadership, we would have a welcoming committee for immigrants.  We would assist  them in finding housing and help them with paperwork to become legal.  I want Cincinnati to start growing in population again, and welcoming immigrants is a part of that.  Instead we have know-nothing reactionary leaders.  Just what we need: to be known around the country as the City where we take a tough stance on illegals!

^ agree

This is only a good idea if other cities also crack down.  In the long run, if this metro is the only one pushing out immigrants, we will slow our growth.  This in turn will hurt in federal dollars as these immigrants and their children become legal.  I cannot believe I am seeing all this backlash against illegal immigrants here when we have a relatively low percentage. 

 

I say be careful what you wish for as this will be just another drag on population growth.  I am surprised metro Cincinnati has had 2 busts in one month for illegals, and I wonder if this is happening in other cities (where would cities in California, Texas, and Florida be without this stream of in-migration?).  With these busts, and the goofball sheriff in Butler County we will quickly get a reputation and immigrants will just go to other cities.  We will have cut the spigot off for Cincinnati, but will still pay the cost for them as they will still be coming to the US.  As long as they are going to be here, we might as well get the payoff of productive people who will help to strengthen our region in the future.

If we had progressive leadership, we would have a welcoming committee for immigrants.  We would assist  them in finding housing and help them with paperwork to become legal.  I want Cincinnati to start growing in population again, and welcoming immigrants is a part of that.  Instead we have know-nothing reactionary leaders.  Just what we need: to be known around the country as the City where we take a tough stance on illegals!

No way man. They are here ILLEGAL. Send them all back. If a company can't survive by hiring american's they shouldn't be in business. Case closed.

Sorry guys, we do not need a welcoming committee for illegal immigrants!  Legal is another story.  We don't need to help them become legal, we need to remove them and let legal immigrants in.

 

As far as being the only people willing to do the work, that is totally false.  They are the only ones willing to do the work for less than a living wage, with no benefits!  There is nothing wrong with a skilled craftsman expecting a decent wage and benefits for doing a good days work.  I'm not necessarily pro union, but this is a perfect example of the need for trade unions.

 

That is a convenient excuse for hiring illegals.  I don't blame these people for wanting to better themselves, they just need to do it the proper way.

 

Yeah, what he said. When Republicans and big business support illegals it's only because they can be exploited. Their cheap labor lines the pockets of businessowners.

This is only a good idea if other cities also crack down.  In the long run, if this metro is the only one pushing out immigrants, we will slow our growth.  This in turn will hurt in federal dollars as these immigrants and their children become legal.  I cannot believe I am seeing all this backlash against illegal immigrants here when we have a relatively low percentage. 

 

I say be careful what you wish for as this will be just another drag on population growth.  I am surprised metro Cincinnati has had 2 busts in one month for illegals, and I wonder if this is happening in other cities (where would cities in California, Texas, and Florida be without this stream of in-migration?).  With these busts, and the goofball sheriff in Butler County we will quickly get a reputation and immigrants will just go to other cities.  We will have cut the spigot off for Cincinnati, but will still pay the cost for them as they will still be coming to the US.  As long as they are going to be here, we might as well get the payoff of productive people who will help to strengthen our region in the future.

 

I believe this was a federal thing - neither Cincinnati nor Kentucky had any say in what happened when.

 

That being said, I'm more on your side of this than the other side.  In fact, I'm in favor of amnesty, assuming we've first closed the border up tight to stop the flow of new illegals.  I'd love to see a welcoming committee for legal immigrants, and a quick and easy method to get the current illegals into legal status...

I say be careful what you wish for ...With these busts, and the goofball sheriff in Butler County we will quickly get a reputation and immigrants will just go to other cities.  ...

 

Exactly.

 

This is another example of Cincinnati acting like it was 1950.  People: WAKE UP!  Both Hamilton and Cincinnati are LOSING population.  Our percentage of immigrants to natives is approximately 2% !!!  This is the lowest it has been in our 200 year existence!  Sheriff Jones in Butler County will help us keep the backward reputation that Prosecuter / Sheriff Leis earned us in the 70's-80's. 

 

Our leaders should be doing all they can to promote immigration.  Reactionary raids on homebuilders will only make illegals less likely to become legal Cincinnatians. 

 

I live in a neighborhood that has an infrastructure to support 50,000 people.  It is now probably under 7,000 people!  This city has whole neighborhoods that are half-emtpy.  I cannot believe the anti-Mexican rhetoric that I read everyday in the letters to the editors.  What a bunch of fools!  There are not a limited number of jobs in the area.  On the contrary there are infinite number of jobs.  More immigrants means more jobs and more taxpayers.  Any city which takes a progressive lead in this area will reap great benefits.  Those who take the "know-nothing" nativist, reactionary course will kill their own city out of spite. 

 

If you have a problem with the "illegal" part, then work to make it easier for them to be legal.  If you have a problem with the low pay they accept, then work to raise the minimum wage.  If you just don't like Mexicans, then .. get out of my city, because I love the taquerias, panderias and mercados, and there is not a single one within a mile of downtown (except in Newport).

 

I for one plan on finding out who is on my side and joining efforts to bring more immigrants of all kinds to Cincinnati.  Who is with me?

^ I don't understand what republicans do or do not have to do with this discussion.  I never used the term.

 

^ I have seen very few Mexicans in downtown Cincinnati.  The ones I have seen were on construction jobs, working, seven days a week, and were not looking for support from "the good people in the suburbs".  By the way, your jab at the "quality of the people" speaks volume about your true objections to the immigrants.  That kind of thinking is really damaging our city.  Have you ever attended a Cincy Latino event? http://www.cincylatino.com Have you seen the vitality of that culture?  I think it could do wonders for Cincinnati.

 

^I only mentioned Simon Leis, because his actions in the 1970's as prosecutor, gave this city a national reputation that helped ruin the nightlife in downtown.  Newport was the only beneficiary of his actions.  Similarly, Sheriff Jones in Butler County is giving this area a reputation as being tough on illegals.  Again, our metro area will lose because of this reputation.

 

^OTR:  Which comes first:  "clean and safe" or more people?  I try to encourage both. 

 

You all should re-start the know-nothing party, you have alot in common with those nativists who opposed allowing Irish immigrants to hold public jobs, and wanted to make immigration more difficult for catholics.  The legal immigration path is draconian, and people who choose to come here should be assisted in whatever way possible to get through the system.

 

Were the people that Fischer had working for them paid minimum wage?  Any taxes paid? Withholdings for FICA and or workers comp?  What happens when one gets hurt on the job?  Does Fischer pick up the tab?  Just questions, I do not know the answer for sure but I do not think that they are playing under the same rules everyone else is forced to play under.  If the builders I work with are forced to play by a certain rule set and there for have a fixed cost for labor, why should Fischer break the law (right or wrong) and undercut us.  Because correct me if I am wrong, Fischer was not trying to make a political statement on immigration, they were trying to cut labor cost.  I would think that if this were anyone else other than Mexican laborors that people would be in an uproar over the mistreatment of these workers.  Perhaps now would be a good time for the illegal aliens to fight for equal pay, equal benefits, equal protections under the law, they should stand tall and speak loud, perhaps even unionize.

 

In my opinion (and I am not an expert) it seems that the US should simply adopt the exact same immigration laws as Mexico.  Anyone here ever try and enter Mexico from a southern border?

This seems to be a pretty idyllic world some us are living in based on newpaper editorials, where all immigrants are legal.  The fact is a great percentage of the US population growth is due to immigration, much of it illegal.  I am glad to see that many in the Cincinnati area want to stand on higher moral ground and only accept legal immigrants "with open arms".  We have to look at the environment around us and if other cities (go to Atlanta and see who is doing the homebuilding - yet a company here gets nailed) are doing nothing about this we are only going to hurt our region in the long run.  I realize this was federally backed, but I suspect there had to be a whistleblower involved.  Is it that hard to see that the addition of some more Hispanic culture would be good for the region? 

 

This is actually starting to smack of something from Simon Leis in the 70's, 80's, and 90's.  While other cities were letting their citizens take roads to perdition, Cincinnati was cleaning up all the gambling and porn because we had higher moral character.  The first amendment battles continued to the point of lunacy with the Mapplethorpe exhibit (although we at least let it come to Cincy, and Boston refused altogether - but we got the rep).  Meanwhile, while we were taking care of these important battles, we allowed Article 12 to be passed prohibiting protection of gays (since overruled), and allowed police/race relations to fester to the point of a riot.  The theme with all of these occurrences is that we have gained a reputation for intolerance.  While I am sure that most Cincinnatians are open-minded, fair people, I would be hesitant to add one more example of us being otherwise.  Again, if we are are one of the only areas where stories of round-ups, and billboards against immigrants, and signs that say "speak English for service" are being written, this will be added as a strike against us.  And frankly, we will have deserved this one.

go to Atlanta and see who is doing the homebuilding - yet a company here gets nailed

 

"Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on April 20 announced the results of the "largest single work site enforcement operation against a company in American history." In a raid that spanned 26 states..."

NAHB National Assoc of Home Builders News

Jimmy- the Republican comment was addressed to someone mentioning that it was Republican owned businesses using the illegals.  Sorry didn't mean to imply you said that.

 

That was me. It's well know that Bush is really only interested in immigration reform so his big business cronies can reap the benefits of continued exploitation of these workers. Big business want cheap labor, who better to hire than those who have no voice.

Point A: It was a FEDERAL raid, by FEDERAL Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who had been investigating this for years.

 

Point B: The raid happened in FLORENCE FRICKIN' KENTUCKY.  For clarification purposes, Kentucky is not the same thing as Ohio.

 

Point C: The sign on the business is in BULTER COUNTY.  Very little of Butler County is in Hamilton County, let alone in Cincinnati.  Wait - actually, NONE of Butler County is in Hamilton County or in Cincinnati.

 

Yes, all of this occured in the Cincinnati Metro area, but none of it has ANYTHING AT ALL IN THE WHOLE WORLD EVEN THE LITTLE TINIEST BIT to do with Simon Leis or Cincinnati's legal jurisdiction or even Cincinnatians' view of immigrants.

 

 

**************

 

Jimmy - I think you're painting with an awfully broad brush here.  Yes, I'm sure there are folks who don't like them damn Mexicans, and want to see them all deported so real Americans can have the jobs.  But I'd bet that proportion is about as small as liberals who hate America or Christians who want sodomy to be illegal.  There are extremist positions on any issue - but it's a straw man, and it ain't gonna convince anyone of good will to change their minds.

 

Now, if you argue that we ought to be more welcoming to illegal aliens - well, that's cool, that's a position that can be argued.  And I'd actually agree with you.  But if you claim that those who disagree with you are obviously racist slime?  That's where I'll exit the train, thank you - and that's also where anyone you're trying to convince will likely exit as well.

 

I think there's plenty of room in the country for loads and loads more immigrants, though I'd like to see them all come in legally, through a reformed immigration system.  And I also think there's plenty of room in the debate for different points of view, though I'd like to see less demagoguing on both sides.

It's well know that Bush is really only interested in immigration reform so his big business cronies can reap the benefits of continued exploitation of these workers. Big business want cheap labor, who better to hire than those who have no voice.

 

I am a member of the Republican Party and I am willing to stand on any street corner with you today to fight for equal pay and equal benefits for illegals. Who will stand with me? Lets decide today that any legislation allowing amnesty of any kind to include ALL WORKERS EQUAL PROTECTION so that everyone is on an equal playing field. How much support do you think you will get from either party? Lets give them a voice, unionize now, not after the they are granted amnesty. This will show where peoples heart truly is.

 

And if you are for amnesty but not for making them fall under Federal and State worker compensation guidlines then you are 1. Creating a second class work force 2. handicapping U.S. Const workers by not allowing them to be competitive in the workforce. So either force the entire workforce to have a minimum wage or do away with that minimum wage and let each worker decide what they are willing to sell their service for. If you have another alternative I would love to hear it because these aren't just farmers in a field we are talking about, they are brick layers, framers, roofers, drywallers, flooring, demo crews, etc. My labor cost on a project is fixed but if we change the rules and I can deliver a product at a cheaper rate to the consumer (because the consumer demands it) with the same margin, then our current labors will be replaced.

 

I as a Republican am willing to go either way, I am not against Mexicans or even Guatemalan's (they did some brick work on a house that was great and only $400, much cheaper than I was quoted by a friend of my family who worked for Hummel((he didn't get the job)). Now if you think that all of these construction jobs are jobs that no American would take or want, then tell the next brick layer that you see that you are doing everything in your power to make sure he does't have to show up to another worksite ever again.

 

So you decide, but we all need to be on equal footing, we all need to play under the same rules.

Interestingly, an article appeared in the paper today, stating a Boone County sheriff's deputy was involved in the raid.  As I stated before, I suspect a local whistleblower was involved as I have repeatedly heard the federal government is leaving it up to local jurisdictions.

 

"A Boone County sheriff's deputy infiltrated a Fischer Homes development by pretending to be tracking a killer from Texas."

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060511/NEWS0103/605110403/1077

 

Meanwhile, the ball seems to be rolling in the metro as Warren County commissioner Mike Kilburn (an appropriate name based on the quotes below) wants to use the overzealous tactics of Butler County.  He acknowledges the federal government will not do anything and that the Cincy area now seems to be on board:

"I took a lot of hits for what I said. Cincinnati magazine even said it was the worst quote of the year," Kilburn said. "Now, everyone's jumped on the bandwagon."

 

Kilburn's controversial 2004 quote: "The first thing we need to do is we need to go down to the Mexican border, pour a 40-foot wall and put about a gazillion volts of electric on top of that wall and then every 400 feet have a guard gate with machine guns."

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060510/NEWS01/605100353/-1/back01

 

We also get the feel good sign from the moron who gained fame for the "For Service Speak English" sign in Mason.  This is Warren County Ohio, but seems to be in response to an occurrence in Boone County Kentucky (amazing).

The Pleasure Inn, which stirred controversy by posting a sign saying "For Service Speak English," now has a second sign declaring "For Service You Must Be Legal."

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060510/NEWS01/305100019/-1/back01

 

Finally, we get the result:

"Local Hispanics here gripped by fear", which adds a nice human element to the debate.

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060511/NEWS01/605110365

 

I did not previously mean to imply that Simon Leis had anything to do with previous occurrences around illegal immigrants, but his attitude of intolerance and shutting people out seems to be alive and well.  Based on how quickly Hispanics will spread the word within their communities, and how quickly this attitude of getting them out is hitting our area this will soon be a non-issue.  Unfortunately, we were just hitting a tipping point of sorts (an estimated 58,000 in the metro), but this number will likely stagnate or decline.  On a positive note, we will be saved from the evil immigrants (especially the future "legals") - and other metros will likely thank us for the influx of people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

^I think you and I agree on the vision we'd have for Cincinnati - an immigrant's haven, a diverse city where loads of people who look very different from one another all feel welcome and help grow the city for generations.  The question is how to get there.

 

And I think at this point, illegal immigration is the biggest obstacle to fulfilling that vision.  The simple fact is, these folks broke the law.  That makes them second-class non-citizens, easily abused and taken advantage of, without recourse to the law for fear of deportation.  And the fact that folks can stream over the border is an obvious, undeniable security risk.

 

My solution?  Three steps:

1) Shut the border down tight.  If that means fences and doubled or trebled border patrols, so be it.

2) Amnesty for everyone already here, if they haven't broken any other laws.  No, it's not fair to the folks who have waited in line for years to get in legally, but I'm sorry, it's a one-time pragmatic solution.

3) Greatly liberalized immigration laws that satiate the labor market's supply and demand imbalance.

 

So, does saying I want a fence and stronger border enforcement make me a racist xenophobe?  Absolutely not, and in fact, I'd argue just the opposite.  I want tons of immigrants to be here - I just don't want them being taken advantage of, I don't want the valid national security risks (to the immigrants as much as to anyone else), and I don't want the law to be flouted.  Our elected representatives write those laws, and the way to change them is to elect new representatives, not to ignore the rule of law.

 

Honestly, I don't see any other program that will work.  What are the alternatives?  Is anyone proposing that it's a wise policy not to patrol our borders?  And if not, then what exactly?

The "jobs Americans wont take" rationalization is pretty lame as there is going to be more and more competition for jobs at the bottom of the pay scale as the Ohio economy shifts to services.  I know the people who work in the food biz and in hotels here in Dayton are Americans.  They might not "want" the jobs but they need the jobs in order to survive.  And they don't need illegal aliens undercutting them.  That seems to be what is going on in the construction trades...illegals undercutting the wage & benefits scale

 

I agree with Riverviewers remarks, but I also think some very stiff penaltys for employers are in order. Penaltys severe enough to act as a deterrent. both ones that have an economic impact (very hefty fines) and personal impact (jail time and/or loss of a buisness liscense).

 

 

Most economists in the past few years have agreed that what slows Cincinnati's economy is the relatively slow population growth, not a lack of jobs. 

 

Riverviewer,

 

Points taken.  If the federal government shuts down the border and makes everyone currently here legal, fine.  The issue, unfortunately, is not being taken up on a federal level at this point, and I fear we are going to be one of the only metro areas to go after illegal immigrants.  This would very much follow the pattern of our notorious history battling the First Amendment, which was quixotic at best.   

 

This is a battle that should be fought at a federal level, and I just do not see why our metro should feel the need to pick up this battle.  Is there a rash of news like this coming from any other city?  I want us to be on a level playing field with everyone else, and if we are the only ones pursuing this we will not be.  Much like offshoring, if anyone within a particular industry lowers their cost structure, they throw everything out of whack. 

 

As far as protecting the immigrants, they are obviously coming here for a reason so it must be better than there.  I am also no expert on naturalization, but any children born here are considered citizens (I think) - so it's basically one generation and done (depending on how long the wave continues). 

 

Besides being the right thing to do since they are already here, we should drop this or I think this will be our new First Amendment debacle.  This will likely be picked up on a national perspective, and we will be presented in a not so positive light.  This will quickly be woven into a theme, and will be in the NY Times or a GQ expose or on CNN.  Am I worried about how this would affect our image and future growth?  Yes.  Especially when you look at the quotes of Mike Kilburn and the owner of Pleasure Inn (what a fitting name).

Atlanta:

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/8840020/detail.html

 

Louisville:

http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/WHAS11_TOP_IllegalImmigrants.592aae1f.html

 

Duluth:

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/business/14543306.htm

 

San Antonio:

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=53649D09-0677-4B3D-B8C1-8A9BDAD64F40

 

Stories from Gettysburg, Syracuse, New Jersey, California...lots of this going on all over.

 

And there's immigration legislation moving through congress:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/11/news/immig.php

 

...and Bush's position is a guest worker program.  There's lots of movement towards this sort of proposal right now.

 

Sorry, don't mean to be curt, but I've gotta run - Trivia Thursday at Indigo in Ft. Mitchell!  But more conversation on it later...

There is not enough space to even hold them even temporary and then we'll have to pay for their transportation back to Mexico. It will be very expensive.

 

Oh they should round up all of the europeans who's Visa's expired also. I personally Know of one, who is a friend of my friend, who stayed here when his Visa expired instead of going back to Russia.

Atlanta:

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/8840020/detail.html

 

Louisville:

http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/WHAS11_TOP_IllegalImmigrants.592aae1f.html

 

Duluth:

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/business/14543306.htm

 

San Antonio:

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=53649D09-0677-4B3D-B8C1-8A9BDAD64F40

 

Stories from Gettysburg, Syracuse, New Jersey, California...lots of this going on all over.

 

And there's immigration legislation moving through congress:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/11/news/immig.php

 

...and Bush's position is a guest worker program.  There's lots of movement towards this sort of proposal right now.

 

Sorry, don't mean to be curt, but I've gotta run - Trivia Thursday at Indigo in Ft. Mitchell!  But more conversation on it later...

 

No problem, although I prefer the Indigo's in Hyde Park.  I guess this answers part of the question in that there are raids that are indeed occurring in other parts of the country.  I continue to wonder if there are people in other large metro areas, and people in power, that are being so vocal with their animosity and making ignorant statements like the ones I mentioned above.  On top of that we have the three ring circus known as Bill Cunningham who continues to pound the ultra-conservative drum on WLW and the sheriff in Butler county who really seems to revel in this:

http://butlersheriff.org/blog/.  He has a lot of time to invest in this apparently. 

 

The way the arguments have been presented do not really sound like intelligent points of view, but more of "stay out of this area because we are so provincial that we cannot accept anyone new or different".  It seems to be building momentum, and I expect someone from Hamilton County to weigh in on this in the near future.

^I think you're right about that - there's a ton of isolationist and anti-immigration sentiment in America - it's always been there, and it's always going to be there.  And I don't mean anti-immigrant - as I said above, I think the folks who really hate them damn Mexicans or whatever else are a very small minority - I mean anti-immigration, who think we don't need to let new folks in, regardless of where they're from.  It's easy to call that point of view racist and anti-immigrant, but I think doing so makes two mistakes:

1) It's inaccurate - fighting to change attitudes that aren't really the problem is a waste of effort, and

2) It's never going to win people to a pro-immigration point of view.  Telling someone they're a racist is basically an admission that you don't give a shit what they think.  And if someone really is a racist, then yeah, I pretty much don't give a shit what they think - but if someone just thinks we're better off worrying about the folks we already have here before we let more people in, then that's a political belief, and he's the guy I want to convince.  And I sure ain't gonna do that by calling him something he's not.

 

Sorry - I think that was probably a retread of what I was saying above...just wanted to make sure I made the distinction between anti-immigrant and anti-immigration.  Because here's the thing - I think the only way to stop the momentum that the anti-immigration folks are building up is to stop illegal immigration.  What I hear folks saying is that we're a nation of laws, and we've got huge masses of people flaunting those laws.  I suspect that if we made sure everyone here was here legally (via a guest worker program, or even via amnesty), that after two weeks of rhetoric, folks would accept them all as Americans and we'd be done with it.  Give them a legal status, and close the borders so we don't get into this situation again, and have sensible immigration laws - and all that momentum, and the whole three-ring circus, it all deflates.

 

And honestly, I don't see another solution.  Obviously the status quo isn't working - we've got folks freezing to death in trailers trying to cross, or dying in the desert; we've got employers paying exploitive wages because the workers accept it, and they can avoid paying taxes; we've got hundreds of non-Mexicans crossing, including folks from nations where we'd probably rather run them through a couple checks - or at least check their bags before we set them loose; we've got a flood of illegal drugs coming in; and we're escalating tensions with Mexico daily.  The status quo is causing or aggravating a host of problems.  And I don't see any other solution that addresses any of this.

Believe it or not, I agree with 90% of the comments on this thread.  National policy must be changed, no question.  Having illegals is bad policy.  Citizenship or working towards citizenship must be a requirement for working here.  Minimum wages and income taxes must be paid.  But what should be done locally with the situation we find ourselves in?

 

I just would LOVE IT if Cincinnati could take a progressive lead on this.  We should be reaching out and assisting anyone who wants to move here.  Why do we always have to be so reactionary aka Bill Cunningham.  He's on the radio as I type screaming about the "end of our way of life" etc... He now has seriff Jones, that wacko on his show. 

 

I get out a lot in Butler County, and the anti-"Mexican" feeling is palatable, out and in the open.  The people there support everything Sheriff Jones says.  I'd say they support all he does, but he really hasn't done much more than talk.

 

I hope that the people sheriff Jones scares out of Butler County will stop in Cincinnati on their way back south, and I hope that the leaders in Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati will help us welcome them.  So far I have not seen the reaction in Cincinnati that I see in the outer burbs.  But, as we get more rehab and construction in the City, we will see more immigrants in the trades, and with that comes the possibility of backlash.

 

I have done a little looking and asking around about groups that assist illegals and haven't found much.  I did find out that we do have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:  http://www.hispanicchambercincinnati.com/ and that the catholics have a ministry called su casa http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/admin/cathhisp.htm

 

I'd really like to see Cincy Latino have many more social and art events in downtown, maybe even establish a cultural center in OTR.

From the 5/12/06 Hamilton JournalNews:

 

 

Butler sheriff targets businesses that hire illegal immigrants

Office has received information and complaints about undocumented workers.

By Mary Lolli

Staff Writer

 

HAMILTON — Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones is mobilizing a special unit of deputies to investigate reports of area businesses allegedly hiring illegal immigrants.  Thursday, Jones said his office in recent months had been inundated with information and complaints about undocumented workers.

 

Calling it a "public service," Jones is sending deputies to those businesses to remind employers about federal laws prohibiting the employment of illegal immigrants and to assist in the prosecution of employers violating those laws.

 

MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/0512illegals.html

 

Riverviewer - it seems like we just have different points of view, but I certainly appreciate your arguments and agree with your distinction between immigrants and immigration.  I think this is a federal issue, and they need to deal with it.  It is disturbing to me to hear the comments from some of our local representatives, radio personalities, and average (or not so) citizens, and I just think this will hurt us in the future as legal immigrants will feel the pain as well.  I think trying to go after illegal immigrants once they are here is like plugging a damn with ones finger.  I would simply prefer for our area to not be considered a leader on pushing immigrants out.

 

Jimmy - I think we are probably on the same page and consider the future benefit of the influx of new people a positive.

 

Of course we would ideally like everyone to follow the legal routes, but that is not the reality of how many areas seeing growth from immigration is occurring.  This topic was all over the national news today so maybe we are just a mirror of the nation.  I hope our reflection is not distorted though. 

 

 

Jimmy - that is a good question: what should we be doing locally about this?  And I think the only way we're going to solve this problem is federally, so that means putting pressure on our elected representatives.  Because the only way to stop the anti-immigration folks and the blowhards is to pull their teeth - when they can complain about folks who are breaking the law - and they're right, they are breaking the law - the argument isn't going to go away.  But when the immigrants aren't breaking the law, then there's no good argument against them, and loads of arguments for them.

 

We might be talking past each other here - maybe I should reiterate that I completely agree with welcoming all immigrants, legal or not.  I'm just saying that it isn't going to solve the underlying problem...and furthermore, I don't believe that, by itself, it stands any chance of making immigrants actually feel welcome here - because the anti-immigration folks have a legitimate concern, and the blowhards have a valid platform to stand on, and folks like that Sheriff will find support.  The only way to undercut that support is to take their legitimate argument away.

It's as if you're a Scientologist, and I am losing control of my own opinion because I agree with your statements.  Since I am new to the board, I will state that that is a joke.

 

And I really do agree with your most recent post.

I've been told I look like Tom Cruise, especially when he's manly and sexy...

 

(actually, I've never been told that...)