Charges Filed Against Raided Bellingham Company
Liz Jones
08/18/2009
The business is Yamato Engine Specialists — a small company that rebuilds car engines. It's charged with conspiring to encourage undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States.
Prosecutors also charged two employees for allowing workers to file false employment forms with the government. The Associated Press reports the employees are expected to plead guilty today.
This was the first big immigration raid under the Obama administration. It drew national attention to Obama's position on workplace enforcement.
That policy is still unclear. But Obama has indicated a desire to shift the enforcement focus to employers, rather that arresting workers during mass raids.
After the Yamato raid in February, one of the arrested workers agreed to leave the country. But the rest were give temporary work visas in exchange for their help with the investigation. They'll likely face deportation once their help is no longer needed. I'm Liz Jones, KUOW News.
© Copyright 2009, KUOW
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