Fine Benchmark Hospitality International $10,000 per each illegal, and at least pay for the deportation with it. This really steams me. The rest of us observe and play by the rules.
"increase a climate of fear among legal and illegal immigrants". Now why in the world would it foster a climate of fear among LEGAL immigrants? You have a green card, you have no problem. End of story.

Posted by honchonumberone (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@honcho: That's right. If you have a green card, just make sure you keep it with you at all times. And make sure you can prove it's not "fraudulent." Maybe keep some extra documentation from a judge explaining how it's a valid document. And some references. From Anglo-sounding names. Just in case. Hmm, why might the legal immigrants be fearful?

Posted by filmjoy (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 10:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is about time that those who break the laws of this nation be sent back home. I hope that the resort is also charged as well for hiring illegals as employees. So many Americans are without jobs due to these individuals and it is time that the myths and excuses are taken for what they are, the lies that have been spoken with out the truth to support them while our shared economy goes down hill quicker everyday.

Also, it is time that this nation take care of its own population, Americans helping Americans keep their jobs without them being stolen by outsiders from other countries or given away by greedy corporations which have forgotten on whose backs they grew on initially, American backs period. I feel for them, individuals from other nations, but not over my fellow Americans, never will that happen. I am loyal to my brothers and sisters as I hope our nation's elected adminstration will be as well from this event onward.

Next, they have a duty to keeping us safe from the entry of a new batch of Terrorists into our nation while our soldiers, brothers and sisters are fighting for our laws and way of life far from home and over seas, God bless them all. So I say, way to go ICE, way to go. Keep up the good work !!!

Posted by jcdavis33 (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

honchonumberone ... jcdavis22 ... a BIG Amen!

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 5:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah it is awesome that they busted these illegals but these illegals actually were paying taxes and hard working. If any of them had stolen identities they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent! I live in Ashburn and I love to see this type of crackdown but why aren't they going after the MS-13 gangs that hang out in Sterling at the Laser Tag???? Oh it's because the Gov't and State won't get any money from that but if they bust up these big companies that house the illegals that actually work then they can fine the corporation. I am in no way supporting the illegal workers but if your going to go after them then lets get all of them especially the ones that are bringing the community down!!! (MS-13)

Posted by 7pickup10 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 7:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

While all immigration laws should be enforced, I would hope the arrest of those who are engaged in criminal activities would be a higher priority than those who are engaged in our local economy in a constructive manner. Today a Loudoun business is without a labor force and 59 taxpayers are in severe trouble -- all due to their own sins, for sure; but, not the most desired result of enforcement of immigration policy.

Posted by Jogger (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't go patting ICE on the back yet. Wait and see how much Lansdowne is fined first. This is just the tip of the ICEburg folks. This labor force is entrenched in the Northern Virginia economy. They were not paid cash, were not paid minimum wage and they were paying taxes at Landsdowne. How much does a dishwasher need to get paid in order for it to be attractive to the American employee? A maid? A golfcourse maintanence worker? Not to defend Lansdowne, because they would never had made the profits they have over these years without these folks (over 50% of the folks who showed up to work that day!) but it was not a situation of exploitation and cash under the table, and they are not alone. If these raids continue and increase look to see some very sad situations, and even if you don't care about those situations, still look to get a better understanding of cause and effect and what this means for our economy.
And as to this statement "Americans helping Americans keep their jobs without them being stolen by outsiders from other countries or given away by greedy corporations which have forgotten on whose backs they grew on initially,",
what a naive reinterpretation of American history. We have consistently built both our large insustries and indeed our very nation on the backs of immigrant labor.

Posted by lunavalle27 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I can not support an busniess that does not follow the US Law.

Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

@funnyguyva Then you should not go to any business because most businesses break some sort of law...

Posted by 7pickup10 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They weren't undocumented workers, this article says they presented forged documents to the company for hire, which is threatened with dismissal in any basic employment contract, so I don't see what Lansdowne has to do with it. Believe them or not, they covered their butts and should not face blame for dishonest workers.
7pickup10: How would you know what most businesses do in the way of breaking laws?
lunavalle27: You left out one very important word in your recount of American history: "We have consistently built both our large insustries [sic] and indeed our very nation on the backs of LEGAL immigrant labor."

Posted by cnelsonhassett (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So there's 59 new job openings at Lansdowne. Is there a line of Americans applying for the job today?

Posted by mazman128 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sounds like ideal summer work for teenagers.

Oh yeah, teens don't work anymore.

Posted by blarf (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This country was built upon hard work and immigrants. Who on this board can say their ancestors have even been in the United States of America longer than 150 years? Even still, your ancestors IMMIGRATED from somewhere, correct? lunavalle27 is correct in saying "This labor force is entrenched in the Northern Virginia economy." AND try the rest of the U.S. Do you even understand the infrastructure of the US and its companies, and labor force (agriculture, etc) would collapse horribly if you shipped out every illegal immigrant tomorrow, like one of the Presidential candidates would like to do? This is the perfect example of people who just want a better life, and most American's solution to the problem is so skewed and righteous. Thinking "those immigrant's are stealing american's jobs. It couldn't be further from the truth.

And funnyguyva, do you eat chicken/beef? vegetables? do you smoke cigarettes? Before you say anything like "I can not support an busniess that does not follow the US Law." Why don't you cleaning up the waste on the floors of the meat packing industry and picking your vegetables & tobacco before you make such statements.

I think some people on this board think this is an easy solution, ship the immigrants back home, etc. Nothing is ever that black and white.

I'd like to know the answer to maxman128's question also "So there's 59 new job openings at Lansdowne. Is there a line of Americans applying for the job today?"

Posted by dcjenny (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

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Posted by dcjenny (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:39 a.m.

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Posted by dcjenny (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:40 a.m.

No, I haven't forgotten. I was, first of all, responding to a comment in which that very important distinction wasn't made. However, if you would like to argue the point; slavery was legal for a couple hundred years so we can't include that labor force, right? The history of US immigration law is a tricky one. Check back to the points that we began to regulate entry and how that entry was regulated. There was a time when "illegal immigration" did not even exist. We then passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which made immigration by Chinese - who largely built our railroads and blazed open a path to the West Coast - illegal. Despite that law they continued to enter illegaly through Angel Island. There was a lso a great deal of unregulated entry through other poinst, such as Baltimore. I guess the children (immigrants or children of) that also worked in the factories in the north were legal at the time, so you've got another point there.

And if you don't think they knew that had a significant amount of undocumented workers check into the amount of SS no match letters they have recieved over the years. They absolutely knew. They may have 'covered their butts' but they knew.

Posted by lunavalle27 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Another point I would like to make is to "Now why in the world would it foster a climate of fear among LEGAL immigrants? You have a green card, you have no problem. End of story." Posted by honchonumberone

Do you think before you post? Legalized aliens can sponsor family members to immigrate. So yes, it fosters a climate of fear among LEGAL AND ILLEGAL, due to a situation like you grandmother being legal, and trying to sponsor family members to immigrate.

Posted by dcjenny (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What part of ILLEGAL are some of you missing. I'm sure the small amount of taxes they are "paying" is not even close to the amount of money they suck out of county for social services not to mention the amount they receive from the federal government in their welfare checks. The immigrants that came to this country back in the day came to be AMERICANS not to use this country for the benefits, fly their own flag and speak their own language. God bless the immigrants that made this country what it is today. This wave of immigrants is completely different. They are users and criminals. If this scares the "legal" immigrants, then maybe they have something to hide as well. Go ICE, it's about time!

Posted by slys (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

AMEN slys!

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

slys - illegal immigrants are not eligible for welfare. Lansdown offers health insurance so they are covered for medical care.
and as to you continuation of revisionist history:

U.S. Immigration Debate Is a Road Well Traveled
Early-20th-Century Concerns Resurface

By Michael Powell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 8, 2006; Page A01

NEW YORK -- They were portrayed as a disreputable lot, the immigrant hordes of this great city.

The Germans refused for decades to give up their native tongue and raucous beer gardens. The Irish of Hell's Kitchen brawled and clung to political sinecures. The Jews crowded into the Lower East Side, speaking Yiddish, fomenting socialism and resisting forced assimilation. And by their sheer numbers, the immigrants depressed wages in the city.

As for the multitudes of Italians, who settled Mulberry Street, East Harlem and Canarsie? In 1970, seven decades after their arrival, Italians lagged behind every immigrant group in educational achievement."

Read the rest of this excellent article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

The difference - in terms of integration - is that instead of immigrating to isolated enclaves of large cities, today's recent immigrants are spreading out to suburbia - bound to raise hairs.

Go ICE? Again, I bet that Lansdowne gets off relatively free. Family members of those apprehended are telling me that there was an "important employee meeting" called by Lansdowne executives Tuesday AM, they forgot to mention it was with ICE. Nice.

Posted by lunavalle27 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Also, check out the rates of European immigrants who RETURNED to their native countries in past centuries. They made money here to go home and start a farm or a business, having no intention of becoming American. But don't let me or history get in the way of your warm fuzzy nostalgia party.

Posted by lunavalle27 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am completely baffled by slys-as lunavalle27 stated, illegal immigrants do not receive welfare checks. I suggest you read a book or 2. & pay better attention to the world around you, instead of passing judgement and thinking you are better than others.

And slys "This wave of immigrants is completely different. They are users and criminals." So you are saying every single illegal immigrant is a "user" and a "criminial"? Do you think there were any "users" & "criminials" before this "wave"?

My family has not even been here 100 years, from Italy. And on Ellis Island our "Italian" sounding last name was changed to something more generic, and "American". Yes! That's it! The American way- blend in. Don't be different. Don't stand out. Don't speak another language. Assimilate. Lose your culture. Le'ts ALL BE EXACTLY the same!

Posted by dcjenny (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

dcjenny- i agree. America's culture is that there really is no culture. everyone came from somewhere else, except the native americans who were here originally.
All of these immigrants who are "taking americans jobs" are working hard just like all of the other americans. I know a few of the people who were arrested, and they were all hard workers who have a hell of a time just trying to survive.
The lazy illegals who come here to bum off of others should leave, but those who are trying to make a living shouldnt be punished for trying to do so. ICE should go find the illegals off the streets and ask THEM for papers.

Posted by Vollieballer1990 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have no problems with immigrants as long as they pay taxes and live by the law. If they are here illegally then they need to work on getting papers. By the way good luck finding any American to fill the jobs that the immigrants do. Also as soon as the dems get into office be prepared to have more immigrants running around... Canada, Mexico and US will soon be merged.. The Amero is on the way....

Posted by 7pickup10 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Man answers classified ad for dishwasher and shows up for interview.
He appears capable of doing the job and provides all the right paperwork including what appears to be valid identification and green card.

Would you then have the HR department hire a private investigator to further verify his right to work? That would be economically foolish and probably illegal.

If these 59 provided Lansdowne with false documentation, then the crime is on them, not Lansdowne.

Posted by Jogger (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It will be interesting to see if the resort gets a free pass on this. Unfortunately, I suspect that they will.

The only way to stop illegal immigration is to stop providing jobs for illegals. Punish employers who take advantage of illegal workers. It is not hard to verify identification and identify the fakes. A simple and free SSN/address check weeds out the majority/

At the same time, if there is a need for labor, the government needs to revise the policies to allow LEGAL immigration and manage it carefully to protect American jobs.

It is sad how the debate lines are drawn on this issue. One can be pro-immigration and anti ILLEGAL immigration. That position doesn't seem to be recognized much.

Posted by blueridgepro (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 9:16 p.m.

dcjenny...back at you. Do you think before you post? If they're LEGAL (as in legally sponsored)they should have no worries. If they are ILLEGAL (as in no documented entry-hiding out in grandma's house)then they should be worried.

Posted by honchonumberone (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

blueridgepro , there is so much truth in your post. If the SSN number doesn't fly, then it's known that they're not flying right.
And I do support visas to allow them to work here, but those visas also should include a trip home , just so when they arrive back, they enter the country legally, in order to start their new attempt at citizenship on the right foot.
And anyone who thinks "some" of them are not recieving welfare is not looking at the right facts, or worse yet, is so naive that they believe not one ILLEGAL has ever slipped thru the cracks of the Federal government and been able to do exactly that.
I am pro-immigration and I am also anti-ILLEGAL. And FWIW, I am descended from anglo's that settled near what is now Richmond in 1760.

Posted by honchonumberone (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

honcho - no really, it is a tried and true system. An undocumented immigrant cannot recieve Welfare. Perhaps employers could benefit from the use of DSS verification technology. There are some services an undocumented immigrant can recieve such as vaccinations, free lunch at school, etc but absolutely no Medicaid (unlesss it is a life threatening emercency in which case it is one time only emergency medicaid), food stamps, housing vouchers.

I have to say, no one should be pro-illegal immigration. Why would anyone support that status? I can assure you that undocumented (illegal) immigrants are not rallying for the cause of illegal immigration. Perhaps some peopel defen undocumented immigranst as morally jsutified and generally hard working, decent people who woudl liek an opportunity to gain legal status. Pro-illegal is a term invented by a group of people who take a my way or no way, with us or against us stance on this volitile issue and they apply it to anyone who objects to even the harshest and most ill concieved legislation- in other words round 'em all up and send um home. It is a way to frame the debate in very rigid terms that should be challenged by any thoughtful and intelligent person out there.

Posted by lunavalle27 (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

dcjenny - Baffled? Hummm. I never said they were "entitled" to welfare but you are living in a dream land if you think they are not receiving it. Maybe you should read something other than your liberal publications and look at what's really happening around you. I hope this is only the beginning of these types of raids on employers aiding and abetting these criminals. Entering this country illegally is a crime, so yes, they are all crminials. ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL - end of story!

Posted by slys (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Illegal workers are ALWAYS going to be hired. They're cheap and hard working. Its a win-win for the greedy employers. And they dont really care that their workers are illegals, they're getting more for their money. Illegal workers are going to CONTINUE to be hired as long as there is still selfish business owners in this world. I don't see that ending any time soon. Its not the right thing for these businesspeople to do, but hey it's cheap labor. Works for them.
As an employee in Loudoun County, I know of MANY people in this influencial area that are hard working ILLEGALS. And being in, behind the scenes, I don't see all illegals being booted any time soon. GOOD FOR THEM.

Posted by vollieballer1990 (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thats GOT to be embarassing for the Lansdowne Resort Management. Not likely to be repeated again, as it's b-a-d for business.

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I would say mildly embarassing, with an emphasis on mildly, given that they PLANNED the whole thing! They called an employee meeting. They knew they were under investigation. Its not as though it was a suprise pre dawn raid for God's sake. Now they are tightly controlling media and publicity.

Posted by lunavalle27 (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wouldn't say they PLANNED it; They were probably informed by ICE and they knew they better comply or else face the bad publicity

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So calling a meeting in advanced wasn't planned?

Posted by lunavalle27 (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 7:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What kind of investigation led to this raid? The workers apparently all had documentation. Did they go after the forgers? If so, we haven't heard about it. The resort apparently fully cooperated with the ICE, and they have the CYA that the employees had proper documentation. So what was our federal tax money being spent on investigating? Workers who help keep one of our county's biggest revenue-generators going? Dang. I wonder if they'll be going after teens not reporting their lawn-mowing income next. What a politically-motivated travesty.

Posted by filmjoy (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 9:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Disappeared? Is that what we've devolved to?

My family was cursed, abused and branded "unconstitutional" by the protectors of "morals" and "virtue" back in 2006. Then in 2007, the same political forces that demonized my family re-emerged as the protectors of "legality". Their rhetoric want so far as to claim that the worshipers of corporate profit stood for workers rights.

The truth is that 59 families who were integrated or integrating into our community were just broken and destroyed as their loved ones were swept up and disappeared. This is not the way a civilized nation behaves. Shame on us.

Posted by jonathanweintraub (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PLANNED, to me, the way you describe it means that Lansdowne Resort, on their own, decided to snare 59 illegal workers, without ICE involvement/encouragement.

That is, obviously, not the case.

ICE instigated the raid, and Lansdowne management cooperated.

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)