by Frank James
Incoming Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano may want to have her department's immigration agents check the immigration status of any cleaning-company workers she may hire to keep up her future Washington-area home.
That's one possible lesson from the revelation that a cleaning contractor used illegal workers to clean Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's home.
And that was despite Secret Service agents checking the workers' identification documents.
As the Washington Post reported:
Every few weeks for nearly four years, the Secret Service screened the IDs of employees for a Maryland cleaning company before they entered the house of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, the nation's top immigration official.
The company's owner says the workers sailed through the checks -- although some of them turned out to be illegal immigrants.
As the WaPo further reported, the Secret Service, like most police agencies, ran criminal but not immigration checks on the workers, which explained how they were able to work at Chertoff's home for so long.
Evidently Chertoff asked if the workers were legal immigrants and was assured they were. Obviously that wasn't enough however.
I recall once talking with Rep. James Sensenbrenner, the Wisconsin Republican who was a leading opponent of comprehensive immigration reform legislation two years ago. He told me he actually asked to see the immigration documents of workers at his house. It seemed a little excessive at the time but in light of what happened to Chertoff, it seems a lot more justified.
In any event, after the immigration status of the cleaning company's workers was investigated, the owner in the Chertoff case was fined $22,880 for having hired undocumented workers.
That apparently ticked him off. It seems he decided to try for revenge on the WaPo's front page. Owner James D. Reid is quoted as saying:
"Our people need to know," said the Montgomery County businessman. "Our Homeland Security can't police their own home. How can they police our borders?"
In otherwords, Reid seems to be taking Chertoff to task for trusting him. Seems like an odd message for a businessman to send.
Comments
Could have some one lied?
Posted by: Inky | December 11, 2008 5:29 PM
Just another example of how screwed up the (unenforced) immigration laws are.
Linda Chavez, who was nominated for , what, Labor Secretary?, had to withdraw because she had a live-in who was illegal.
Nothing will happen to Chertoff. He'll just claim he "had no idea there was gambling at Rick's Cafe".
Posted by: ornery | December 11, 2008 8:54 PM
From the owners response I conclude that the fine was not big enough.
Posted by: Ron M | December 11, 2008 9:10 PM
"Our Homeland Security can't police their own home. How can they police our borders?"
Priceless...the guy in charge of protecting our boarders can't even protect his home. He has how many people at his disposal? Who is working in the WH???
Posted by: lochnessmonster | December 11, 2008 9:56 PM
It's worth noting that a DHS spokesman took the opportunity to promote "reform". The left and the DHS are basically on the same side, whether the former knows it or not.
Posted by: 24AheadDotCom | December 11, 2008 10:48 PM
Just another shining example of George W. Bush keeping America safe from intruders.
Posted by: jackson | December 12, 2008 11:54 AM
Why do we always act surprised? Look at most Walmarts around the country--cleaned after hours inMANY cases by illegals from various countries. go into a kitchen at a remote 'greek diner' and you'll find illegals working in the kitchen. go into any chinese restaurant---who are we KIDDING. Indentured servitude and worse exists andflourishes and 'middle class' americans benefit from it.
Posted by: Lou Dobbs can kiss my grits | December 12, 2008 6:06 PM
Since these illegals were working for a 3rd party, it is the contractor's responsibility to assure HIS employees are legal citizens.
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Would it be your responsibility if you bought a hamburger at McDonalds to make sure the cook was not an illegal alien?
Posted by: Terry | December 13, 2008 8:50 AM