Feds arrest 64 in raids

why in the hell would you arrest immigrants in Michigan? Let them work and try to improve Michigan’s falling economy. Why would you make the economy worse of this 3rd world state by arresting the few people who want to work and improve michigan..way to go, ohh great america. Digging your own grave.

Let’s see here. Hmmm…arresting immigrants in Michigan so that we can give Michiganders the job. Figure it out. We have the highest unemployment rate in the country. We are letting illegals take jobs that Michiganders could get.

I’m glad this happened. I interviewed there last year for a job. The person who interviewed me asked her first question in spanish and when I said I didn’t understand she thanked me for coming and said the position was filled.

It is good to see our U.S. laws finally being enforced across America. Not only was ICE right in detaining the illegal aliens, but the owners of El Azteco should be arrested for violation of U.S. laws and hiring illegal aliens. It is hard to believe the owner did not know they were not legal, and if they followed proper documentation procedures, they should have discovered they were not legal residents. Sorry illegals and El Azteco owners — you were were breaking the law, and as a legal US citizen and tax payer, this is exactly what we need our government doing more of. Your workers are more than welcome to come back should the apply via the legal, proper channels.

¿Los mexicanos illegales son víctimas? ¿Ellos desobedecieron la ley de nuestro país y que se quejan de que son maltratados?

It shouldn’t be about citizenship… Remember, people other than citizens have the right to work in this country. People with green cards, work visas, etc. also have the full right to work in this country. I’m sick and tired of people just assuming that only people with US citizenship have the right to do anything.

For some people, getting citizenship is very, very hard.

If they wanted to arrest illegal aliens they should come down here and I can take them down the street to the 7/11 where 50 of them hang out everyday. They work for cash so no taxes get paid. Want some drug?, just go down to the 7/11 and you can pick up anything you want.

Zip tied together is inhumane? Try taking a knife wound or being shot. Police need to take precautions when arresting someone. Sorry, but if they have been here for 18 years and have not attained citizenship then I believe it is time for them to go.

El Azteco is the closest thing to decent Tex-Mex in Michigan but I can’t feel sorry for them losing the illegals.

The only question I have for those against what is happening to the illegals is this: What do you think happens in those countries (i.e. Mexico etc.) if you are caught illegally in their country? Do you really think you’re simply allowed to leave or get a free pass? Additionally, look at how Mexico treats immigrants from other Central American countries. It’s as bad as some totalitarian regimes.

Dear Mr. Santa Cruz:

I have been a customer since your opening in the late 1970s and your nachos were only $3.99.

You have become very successful. Your businesses are probably worth more than $1,200,000.00. You probably pay a decent wage and take a decent profit for your work and risks.

A few inconvenient facts:

1. “Santa Cruz said the men, to his knowledge, were U.S.” legally.

I doubt that.

Sad thing is, I know who Inconvenient Facts is and while I vehemently disagree with him (or her) on most things, I have to agree with him on his points here aside from the political jabs thrown in.

Here’s my 2 cents on illegal immigration:

If you come here and work for the better part of two decades and contribute to our society in some way while getting away it, congrats, you beat the system and I wish you the best. BUT, if you get caught, you don’t really have any ground to stand on. It’s sad, and I hate to see it happen after a person (and possibly a family) has been here for 18 years. However, a law is a law and as an American citizen, I’m responsible if I break a law and I will be held accountable. So should they.

Also, let’s not forget that 40 of these 64 had warrants out for their arrest. We don’t know what the warrants are for, but keep this in mind before you cry them a river.

I think what we all really want to know is: What does Jason van Dyke think of this?

Nice to see the government enforcing the laws that are on the books. Now if it were only done more than once in a blue moon…

Dear INCONVENIENT FACTS,

You state “4. ILLEGALS create HUGE, unknown downstream costs in Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.”

How can you call the costs huge is they are unknown???

Sorry, should read “How can you call the costs huge if they are unknown???”

It’s always good to hear about a raid to round up the ILLEGAL ALIENS. These ILLEGAL ALIENS are one of the worst things that ever happend to America!

With the Arizona State Illegal Immigration Law upheld in the courts last month, there is no excuse for any State not to have a State law to get rid of the ILLEGAL ALIENS.

I believe the American taxpayers are fed up with the suckling of these ILLEGAL ALIENS. Just sucking us dry from the BILLIONS upon BILLIONS sent out of this Country every year, not to mention the BILLIONS upon BILLIONS the ILLEGAL ALIENS and their ANCHORS suck up every year.

Sorry, should read “How can you call the costs huge if they are unknown???”

BECAUSE NO ONE IS SURE HOW MANY ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE IN THE USA!!!!!

Actually Inconvenient Facts illegal immigrants that pay taxes cause a surplus to government programs such as social security because they pay those taxes, but never end collecting the benefits from those programs. So no illegals don’t have downstream costs in the programs you mentioned but actually benefit them.

Not that I support illegal immigrants though I just thought I’d straighten that up for you.

Having lived and worked in a few different countries, I don’t have any sympathy for people who are here illegally. If you want to live and work here, you get into line and wait your turn like everyone else. That’s just the way it works.

Think!, please don’t get started on that “they are taking our jobs” crap. They are taking the jobs because your Michiganders are lazy and don’t want to work. If it wasn’t for immigrants, this country wouldn’t even exist. Remember, your family was once a immigrant family too. People in MI don’t want to work and all they do is sit around on the couch collecting unemployment, go out and work if you don’t want immigrants take the jobs.

El-Azteco was my favorite restaurant when I was there….
What you all seem to be missing is that us citizens do not want to do the kind of work that “illegals” do for us. The reason I went to MSU was to get a better job (I was a cook previously). Those of you who wrote comments are in MSU to not have to work in kitchens for minimal (or less) wage w/o benefits. These people serve a necessary function whether we like it or not. I think it is a disgrace that they are treated like criminals when they serve us so well.

For all you inconvenient facts and Delaware bobs. Have you guys really forgotten where you came from. Your forefathers crossed an ocean, took over a country that wasn’t theirs, and killed thousands of Indians. You act like illegal immigrants are doing something that is horrible but guess what your forefathers did the same thing except they massacred thousands in the process. I’m not saying that I support it, cause I don’t, but don’t act like illegal immigrants are bad people just because they are here to work.

For all you inconvenient facts and Delaware bobs. Have you guys really forgotten where you came from. Your forefathers crossed an ocean, took over a country that wasn’t theirs, and killed thousands of Indians. You act like illegal immigrants are doing something that is horrible but guess what your forefathers did the same thing except they massacred thousands in the process. I’m not saying that I support it, cause I don’t, but don’t act like illegal immigrants are bad people just because they are here to work.

Serves them right. I was physically accosted by the El Azteco Manager. He came running out of the restaurant chasing me and screaming. The food is gross, they’re inflexible and overpriced. The niche cult following just likes the margaritas and upper level deck. Hopefully the ‘legal’ workers will go back to Mexico with the illegals. Close El Azteco for good and open up a prime location in East Lansing.

Does anyone else find it concerning that so many people refer to illegal aliens as simply ILLEGALS? I think many people in our country forget that the founders of our country came here and simply took whatever land we wanted. And then during the industrial revolution our shores were flooded with immigrants who came here for a better opportunity, and to achieve the American Dream. Now look, I’m not saying that we just open the doors and let everyone in unchecked, or that the raids were even wrong (at least for those who had arrest warrants issued) but we need to remember our roots, and not think we are all high and mighty. And most of all these are people, not ILLEGALS.

This is what this discussion board sounds like. “Waaaah they’re taking my job at El Azteco, waaaaaah, they, they’re stealing my money.” Quit your whining and get your heads out of your a$$es. Did you read the article? They pay their taxes, they’ve contributed to our failing economy for 18 years, where as the locals are too lazy to work hard enough to make any impact to keep a job for 18 years.

In addition to the aforementioned, one of them was going to buy a HOUSE! That is a huge investment in this state as of yet. You intolerant, neo-con, dolts can’t seem to understand that.

Once again, please pull head out of a$$ and step aside for the rest of us to progress and evolve, thank you.

Actually Inconvenient Facts illegal immigrants that pay taxes cause a surplus to government programs such as social security because they pay those taxes, but never end collecting the benefits from those programs.

—-

Dear Idiot: You are just blathering crap fed to you by the PRO-ILLEGAL ALIEN mob.

Ok, so I’ve been here most of my life with a green card, I applied for citizenship December of last year, and got the appointment for the test in March. ICE does not do inhumane things, they are good people here to serve the public and rid drug dealers in this country that pollute this country.True that these people where working at El Azteco, yet we don’t know their history. They might’ve been ex drug dealers, got out, and then worked. They might have attempted murder on their records. We just don’t know, but ICE doesn’t target people for no reason, they go after criminals…

I worked for El Azteco West for seven years with wonderful, hard-working staff people. Their country of birth was no impediment to my respect and the lasting friendships I formed there. I assisted staff members who were learning English and who were working to attain U.S. citizenship, a process which often takes years. I am an American citizen and I am proud to work have had the opportunity to work with people from other countries who have a strong work ethic, and the opportunity to learn about other cultures was an invaluable part of my life.

Pito Rico states: “The food is gross, they’re inflexible and overpriced. The niche cult following just likes the margaritas and upper level deck.”

You’re on drugs, dude. The food is (was) awesome, and who doesn’t like margaritas and upper decks???

“All you whiners need to ask yourself when was the last time you worked so hard for this country.”
Wait… How exactly is making greasy sub-par Mexican food working “so hard for this country”?

“I strongly doubt any of you have done half as much.”
Absurd, and baseless, personal attack.

“Immigrants are a fundamental part of our country.”
I have no problem with immigrants or immigration. My great-grandparents all immigrated here from Ireland. But they did it legally.

ICE does not do inhumane things

Try the IRS. They give out free ice cream.

I think we all need to embrace the idea of a world economy ..*

Good. We’ll send all the bills to you. That’s bi-partisanship.

To all of those spouting off their IAH 201 revisionist history garbage about where are forefathers came from and how they took this land from the natives, it simply doesn’t change the fact that these current people ARE BREAKING THE LAW! These are laws enacted by the nation occupying this land and therefore must be enforced.

Why dont we look at this for what it is.. these raids are an issue of human rights. these people when they are taken are put in DETENTION CENTERS. one of them was sitting in a detention center for 36 hours before she was even told where she was or what was happening. these people arent given a change of clothes or any hygiene products. There sitting in these jails rotting like garbage we throw to the side for their supposed “crimes”.

crossing the border is a civil infraction.

As a former Ez-Azteco West employee,let me at least say this:
if nothing else, all the above comments have provided a very entertaining read during lunch.
Now get off your high horses and don’t forget to vote.

First of all when our forefathers came to this country there were no immigration laws! Too bad that my forefathers didn’t think of that back then. Now there are laws on the books and these people are breaking the laws by coming here without permission. That’s something that even a liberal MSU student should be able to understand.

Secondly, illegal’s do not pay the same taxes as US citizens or legal immigrants pay and each one ends up costing the citizens of this country approx $23,000.00 apiece.

Republican1 you are a complete idiot, these rats that sneak into our country mostly from the south are no good for this nation. They broke the law, snubbed their nose at us and deserve far worse treatment as far as I am concerned. One has posted how they tried to get a job at this crap hole and were turned away because they only spoke ENGLISH??, IN AMERICA?? The owner needs to be fined to the point of broke then put in jail, then Americans with out jobs should be given baseball bats to beat him with.

Really want to stop illegals from working. Arrest and jail every single employer found having illegals working at their business. Arrest and jail every individual employing illegals to work in their homes. Put them in holding areas and put it all on TV, front page, etc. Within a month no one will hire an illegal immigrant and that’s the end of it. Guess what will never happen.

1)Immigration laws need to be enforced

2)Stop saying “liberal” like it’s a criticism. On one end you have the Ivy League, followed by the Big Ten, Pac 10, …. on the other you have Bob Jones U and Liberty University. Guess which school you’d rather go to?

3)The Republicans haven’t exactly grown a backbone and done anything about illegal immigration.

Dave co: You’re an idiot. Take some English classes.

I don’t think anyone here really knows the effects of Illegal Immigration. Go find some studies and stop blowing hot air. One person said above that Illegal Immigration is the worst thing that happened to this country? In what ways? I bet on those same standards, if you weren’t so biased against Illegal Immigrants, you would realize the FEDERAL RESERVE is probably the worst thing that happened to this country. The ILLEGAL BANK has been hurting America, REMOVE that.

As a former El Azteco manager I can tell you that the Latino’s are invaluable to the operation of that restaurant. When we tried to hire American-born workers to do the dishes, they were generally alcoholics, crack-heads, and were totally unreliable. They wouldn’t show up for their shifts and when they did they did a poor job. This is because most Americans aren’t willing to slave over a hot dishwashing machine for minimum wage.

http://michiganmessenger.com/6999/immigration-raids-net-64-in-lansing

This was the first story on the arrests in the Lansing area, and you will notice that no local law enforcement appears to have been notified about the operations.

“hard workers who appreciated the opportunity to make minimum wage, even at such a difficult job as washing dishes.”
I worked as a dishwasher at school (I’m white). But I guess I’m not an “alcoholic, crack-head, and … totally unreliable” like all of the other college and high-school students in East Lansing.

“Workers who don’t have legal documents must provide fake documents.

Replying to GGG:

Actually I also was a dishwasher at school, in the dorms, likely the same as you. I’m not implying all dishwashers are alcoholics/crackheads/etc. I’m saying all the American born dishwashers we were able to get at El Azteco fit that mold, and if wasn’t for foreign born workers willing to step in and cover their shifts there would be no clean dishes.

Dey took our jebs.

“For some people, getting citizenship is very, very hard. The US government has very strict quotas for some countries (mostly in Latin America) that prohibit good people from getting their citizenship. My mom has been applying for citizenship for well over 10 years, she’s been in this country with a permanent resident green card for over 35 years, and has been holding jobs, paying taxes, and raising us since then.

The parents of US citizens are NOT subject to a cap.

“Actually Inconvenient Facts illegal immigrants that pay taxes cause a surplus to government programs such as social security because they pay those taxes, but never end collecting the benefits from those programs. So no illegals don’t have downstream costs in the programs you mentioned but actually benefit them.”

The TOTAL funds in the Suspense Fund where SS taxes paid under fraudulent IDs go doesn’t cover more than one year’s SS payment obligations which run around $600 BILLION. And now, the trend is for illegals to use STOLEN social security numbers, so the money isn’t going into the Suspense Fund, but it being charged to the owner of the account.

Former Employee, to me it sounds like you or the owner did a piss poor job at hiring American workers if all you could find were crack heads who miss shifts. I’d blame that more on you than anything.

And really, Alan Greenspan actually said the Social Security system would have gone broke years ago if it weren’t for illegals? Are you fucking kidding me? Do you actually have a college degree?

This is obviously just more hatred and ethnic cleansing of Mexicans from the US. Long history, check out my site…

http://mexicanexpulsions.blogspot.com/

First of all… before you BLAME illegals for taking American jobs… look at the federal government who has been giving tax breaks to the big companies for outsourcing the AMERICAN jobs. Compared to the illegals working here, MOST american jobs are being paid to India and China because people in those countries are not selfish like most americans.

Illegals should be deported. They are invading and ruining our country. I would love to see our government actually do their job and enforce our laws instead of giving billions to Wall Street bankers.
I actually tried to start a group in 1980 at MSU. If you care about the issue, I would suggest going to www.numbersusa.com or www.fairus.com.
GO GREEN!

So WHY do we have laws???
Some say the are people, yes they are ILLEGALLY RESIDING IN OUR COUNRTY, without being vetted, NO health checks, those people working in that restaurant could have diseases that were done away with in the US.
DID you KNOW that the MEAN ole USA lets in 1 million LEGAL IMMIGRANTS every year?

actually there was a bunch of Mexicans that snuck over the border last year and were caught in the wildfires, many died, BUT the ones still alive were rushed to AMERICAN hospitals in San Diego (I think), the one that had the least $$ spent on him ran up a bill or $160,000.00, then he moved to Oregon, got a job in a restaurant (again) is driving WITHOUT a license, and WITHOUT INSURANCE, and is sending his $$$ back to Mexico.

To Pat,

DEY TOOK UURRR JEAABBS!!!!!!!!!!

priceless…

So… KY man and the truth is…. soooo.. it’s all the “AMIGOS” taking our jobs in the US? Huh? Are you actually turning a blind eye to OUTSOURCING? This all sounds too familiar… remember how the Chinese were taking the jobs in Cali during the Gold Rush? Yeah, they were targeted then… and now… Hispanics. And as for the statistics… for example in sturgis, mich. … are they being mentioned because of the fear that the majority will eventually be the minority? Bottom line… one of the races that continues to increase is the hispanic race… legally or illegally they are increasing. So, are these numbers out of fear?????

actually if you sign up at www.numbersusa.com, you can send FREE, FREE, FREE faxes to congress and they alert you when congress is trying to SNEAK in some type of amnesty bill on a bill going through congress.
There is a WAY TO CHECK THE ELIGIBILITY of ANY worker that applies, and it is E-Verify, which passed the HOUSE big time, but when it came time in the Senate, it was held up by the Democrats, first to add a bill to add another 500 thousand plus to the one million Legal Immigrants we allow in each year.
I haven’t heard ONE PEEP from any of you of that think that if you can get here, you can stay here, about the infastructure of our country, where’s the water, highways, schools, fuel going to come from IF we allow anyone that wants to to come here??? Where are all the “global warming” group????
We had bills in congress to STOP THIS: The SAVE ACT, HR 4088, STOPPED by Nancy Pelosi, remember if she doesn’t like it it’s not allowed to come to the floor for a vote, now that’s just the ticket eh?

Wow, how Sturgis came into this discussion is weird..but that is my hometown and I work there, so I’m very very familiar with things. Let’s just say the numbers quoted are the truth. And what no one can really figure out is why Sturgis, Michigan, a small industrial town surrounded by farms is such a popular spot for immigrants. The town has been stagnant for 30 years! And everything in town is now completely bi-lingual.

To those who don’t think “hiring ILLEGALS is no big deal.”

You going to give your job to an ILLEGAL?

Show us. Or crap out.

i love you dave co

send them all back….

here here msu. I used to love my hometown, now I need to speak spanish to fit in or get a decent job. I work at a video store and a mexican woman ad her 8 kids came in to open an account and she was offended that I couldn’t speak spanish!!! She acually threw up her hans and walked out! they never pay their late fees anyway…..

hello????

I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE BENIFIT THAT YOU REALLY BELIEVE WHAT YOU WRITE BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT NONE OF YOU WERE THERE, NONE OF YOU WORKED NEXT THESE PEOPLE EVERYDAY, NONE OF YOU PROBABLY KNEW THESE PEOPLE EXCEPT EX- EL AZTECO EMPLOYEE. YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE FROM OR HOW THEY GOT HERE. YOU DO NOT EVEN KNOW IF ALL THE FACTS IN THIS ARTICAL ARE RIGHT.

You illegals need to stfu about the killings the whites did when they came here. It’s a non-issue first of all. But don’t forget about it because second of all, if we did that to Indians (of whom some were my ancestors) what do you think will eventually happen to you since you’ve already spilled the beans about you intentions of taking over our country? We know how you’re getting by and you’re a bad influence on our politicians and business people who were already tending toward corruption.

NO MORE SANCTUARY CITIES OR STATES PROTECTING MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS

1. The number of illegal aliens already here – an estimated 37 million according to the Tucson sector Border Patrol union local 2544 (with an additional half-million coming every year) a massive financial impact on our economy by importing the worlds poor.

2.

I applied at El Az many years ago. Worst pay in town, so i went somewhere else. Arturo should be ashamed of exploiting people. Of course they can’t keep people for those wages! Maybe Arturo should pay a few more pennys. and keep his hands to himself.
BTW- we ARE all illegals/ somos todos illegales

So they were restrained . . . they did something illegal!!! Give the jobs to LEGAL citizens!!! They were in this country for way too long not to have applied for citizenship. And a fundraiser, you’ve got to be kidding!! How about take that $5 and go down to the local shelter for the homeless who can’t get jobs!!!

I worked at El Azteco in 1980. We called him “Arturo the Burro”

I am losing faith in every part of mankind. How can you act like these people are diseased and evil? Why do we all feel like we have to own something? I was glad to have met these people! They were people like you and me just trying to live a decent life. It makes me sick that people are so judgemental because they are worried about money and land and citizenship. I wish the world was more worried about being friendly to each other and not write so many hate letters that really aren’t affecting your everyday lives.