From the CL:
Back in 1966, it took a high profile raid of a Mardi Gras party at the Jackson Country Club to break the back of the nation's last statewide prohibition law.
After lawmen raided the party - attended by many of the state's social elite and several statewide elected officials - the Legislature repealed the statewide liquor ban and stopped winking at illegal liquor sales and consumption.
Now, 42 years later, federal officials have for the second time in two years caught the Jackson Country Club knowingly employing illegal immigrants. In September 2006, the feds arrested 18 illegal immigrants employed at the swanky private club.
Later that same year, as many as 43 illegal immigrants were shown to have been in the club's employ. Even after being caught, the club continued to employ the workers - saying their presence was "necessary for business."
The Jackson Country Club situation points up the hypocrisy and political grandstanding that the illegal immigration issue produces in this state and nation. During the 2008 legislative session, another spate of punitive bills has been introduced - including some downright silly ones - to make the state appear "tough" on illegal immigration.
But at the same time, legislators know as did the golfers and socialites at Jackson Country Club that immigrant workers likely to be illegal were serving their food and drinks, mowing their lawns and performing any other manual labor they didn't want to do for themselves.
So the Federales are fining the ole CC of J $214,000 (that's thousand) for their second offense. And according to the WAPT story, U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton has agreed not to prosecute the club for 2 years.
That's pretty sweet for them. I wonder if Dave The Democrat's Lawn Care & Upholstery Service would get the same cavalcade of second chances.
Well, okay. I don't really wonder.
Good catch. Perhaps its members will begin to think critically about the problem and help find a real solution instead of simple immigrant bashing.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty obvious that a large number of the construction worker at USM are only Spanish speaking. I don't know if they're all legal, but I doubt it.