Restaurant Raids Part of Big Sweep
Wheeling, New Martinsville in national roundupBy GABE WELLS And JONAY KELLY-BLAVOS
Article Photos
Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested one person in Wheeling during the Nogales raid, which took place shortly after 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at the 1201 Market St. business. Alejandro Garcia of Wheeling, who is identified in federal documents as the manager of Nogales, was arrested.
Agents also raided three apartment buildings in Wheeling that were targeted by ICE in what agency spokesman Michael Gilhooly called a “criminal worksite enforcement operation.” The buildings are located at 811 Market St., 16 Eighth St. and 1201 Eoff St. Several suspected illegal immigrants were detained in the raid.
Federal agents then made their way south, raiding El Caporal Mexican restaurant in the New Martinsville Plaza along W.Va. 2 shortly before noon. Lunch was interrupted for several patrons during the raid. Agents arrested restaurant manager Alberto Antimo of New Martinsville.
Also arrested Wednesday, according to the Associated Press, was Simon Banda, who uses the name Jorge Delarco of Depew, N.Y., the owner of both Nogales and El Caporal along with five other Mexican restaurants in three other states that were raided by federal immigration agents Wednesday. Banda is charged with conspiring to harbor illegal immigrants.
He appeared in federal court in New York without a lawyer Wednesday and was given until Friday to hire one. U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh Scott ordered him detained until then, based on the government’s assertion that Banda is a Mexican citizen who is in the United States illegally.
Gilhooly said the Wheeling and New Martinsville raids were part of a criminal investigation that also involves Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Georgia.
In addition to ICE, members of the West Virginia Department of Labor, West Virginia State Police, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department and the New Martinsville and Wheeling police departments took part in the raids.
Also Wednesday, federal immigration agents raided several Pilgrim’s Pride poultry plants — including one in Moorefield, W.Va. — in a crackdown on an alleged scam to provide fake identification for illegal immigrant workers, authorities said.
More than 300 people are expected to be charged in the Pilgrim’s Pride raids, said Julie Myers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement assistant secretary.
In another case, a federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted 10 people from suburban Atlanta employment agencies on charges they placed illegal immigrants in jobs at Chinese restaurants and warehouses in six states. The agencies allegedly developed a network to “recruit and exploit” undocumented workers, said Kenneth Smith, special agent in charge of the ICE office in Atlanta.
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KJay31
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04-29-08 6:31 PM
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Oh, I almost forgot. You all are raising cane about Mexican peole becomming citizens. Do you even consider the fact that they cannot afford the 1,500 dollars it costs to go through naturalization. These people are working for pennies. They came here with basically nothing. It is harder to do than you think. All most of htese people want to do is live a life just like us. They were working taking care of their families. Oh, and by the way two of the people arrested were a married couple who have a child. The mother was released so I heard but now the child is fathless and homeless.
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KJay31
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04-29-08 6:23 PM
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I understand these people were not paying taxes. They are not legal citizens of this country. Instead of acting like you know their world and making it out to being great, look at what they were doing. They were forced to work in this resturant for years to pay for the costs of getting them into this country. I know it didn't cost four or more years salary. These people have been there that long if not longer. I have been going there for a while. They were extremely nice and harmless. I took my kids to eat there often. They were so good to us. I will miss them. It is not like they were committing hiddeous crimes and hurting people. I am from Ohio and I traveled to West Virginia on a weekly basis just to visit that resturant. It brought business to Wheeling. Now there is no reason for me to go to Wheeling. Remember no illegals no awesome burritos!!!!!!
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GETACLUE
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04-26-08 11:10 AM
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PART 3: You think the war in Iraq is costing us too much? Read this: Boy am I confused. I have been hammered with the propaganda that it is the Iraq war and the war on terror that is bankrupting us. I now find that to be RIDICULOUS. I hope the following 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them. I have included the URL's for verification of all the following facts. 1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state governments. Verify at: *******tinyurl****/zob77 2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. Verify at: ***********cis.****/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html 3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens. Verify at: ***********cis.****/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html 4. $12 Billion dollars a year
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needanewmayor
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04-22-08 9:36 AM
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Maestle is a bleeding heart liberal that when it all is said and done has no true common sense. Keep dreaming buddy. Again, illegals are what they are, illegal. There is a reason they are here illegally, they are trying to get around the system. I applaud those who are going through the system. I have a friend doing that right now, going through the system. He understands it and abides by it. Maestle next will say that we are being too harsh on drug dealers and those in prison and that the government has too much say in our lives.
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bekbekket
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04-21-08 6:19 PM
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You want compassion? "I feel terrible we should send all illegals back to Mexico!" How's that?
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Maestle
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04-20-08 10:11 PM
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We are after all talking about human beings, many who only wish for a better life for them, and their families. You know, the american dream. Why our ancestors came here. 24 month wait even seems excessive, but 240 years is ok? Please. Lets have a little empathy people, you know? Put you self in someone elses shoes? Yeah. That would require compassion, and a soul. Sorry i asked you to do it.
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Maestle
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04-20-08 2:33 PM
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Yep, and the fact it proves the laws are broken/outdated/wrong, seems to mean nothing to you.
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GETACLUE
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04-20-08 8:55 AM
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Maestle...... There is no legal way for me to make a MILLION DOLLARS, it would take me well over 11 years. So by your logic it is fine for me to sell drugs or steal from rich people because there is no other legal way.
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Maestle
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04-20-08 4:06 AM
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a 240 year wait, hardly makes sense.
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Maestle
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04-20-08 3:22 AM
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WVUFAN. Once again, i suggest the people on here listen, and or read. ITs pretty simple. There is not a legal way, for mexicans to come here, the curent wait list is 11 years, that is only for a small portion. IF ALL MEXICANS CURRENTLY LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGAL, APPLIED TO COME HERE LEGALLY, IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN 240 YEARS TO LET THEM ALL COME HERE LEGALLY. These numbers are numbers the GOVERMENT says.
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bekbekket
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04-19-08 2:56 PM
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GETACLUE- I commend your effort to "speak" to someone who will not listen. You have great patience... and insight. At some point though, you need to let this leaf blow away.
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wvufan
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04-19-08 11:16 AM
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Maestle: You say that mexicans want to pay taxes. If that is true why don't they go back to mexico and come over our borders legally? There is a legal process which gets you here and it's not that difficult. If we would take the welfare away from teh able-bodied people in our country we wouldn't have jobs for illegals to work and that would solve the problem. On a sidenote i'm going to miss the food from these restaurants...
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GETACLUE
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04-19-08 7:15 AM
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You really need to go back through this blog and the other I have posted in. Find me one post where I have said anything negative about LEGAL immigrants of Mexican nationality. You come on here and put people down, act condescending, and call them NARROW MINDED. MAESTLE, YOU THE ARE NARROW MINDED ONE. When confronted with questions whose answers won't support your views, you resort to name calling, or chose to ignore them all together. BOTTOM LINE IS I EXTEND THE SAME INVITATION TO YOU THAT I EXTEND TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. IF YOU DON"T RESPECT THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY THEN LEAVE!!!!!!!
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GETACLUE
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04-18-08 10:52 PM
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Maestle You make a snide remark about me being a LAW ABIDING CITIZEN as if it were a bad thing. Tell me where you live so I can move in and do your dishes and laundry for room board and medical care . Also I wish to drive your car when ever I like. I intend to get pregnant while under your roof so you will have no problem paying for my prenatal care or the cost of the birth and then the fun can really begin. I won't have time to do my household chores so you still have to provide for me and my children. I AM SO VERY HAPPY TO HAVE FOUND SOMEONE LIKE YOU!!!!!!
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Maestle
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04-18-08 8:38 PM
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bekbekket Im not telling my self that mexicans dont have diseases. The CDC, the WHO, DOCTORS. They tell me that. You on the other hand get your facts from fox news. Bravo. Rock on.
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Maestle
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04-18-08 8:37 PM
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Yes, keep blindly following the law. Being a follower is so easy. Cory? Chambering a round? Is that a threat? Better watch what you say on the internet, it never goes away.
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GETACLUE
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04-18-08 4:04 PM
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Maestle....Nice NON ANSWER you should really consider running for office .
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cory1978
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04-18-08 3:19 PM
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maestle...u mussum b d smardest persen id ceen ina long tim..ignorance is bliss...you must be very happy then....thank god people like you are rare and few....click...chambering a round...good lord!
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bekbekket
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04-18-08 2:55 PM
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Maestle- you keep telling that to yourself... it will justify your stance, to you. Keep telling yourself selling crack is "too" illegal, but illegal immigration isn't illegal enough. Talk about lol... would be funny, if it weren't so sad. And keep telling yourself that Mexicans don't have diseases, but if they did, heck what's a few more gonna' hurt? And keep telling yourself you're just plain smarter than people that disagree with you... pretty soon, you're gonna' believe it. And YOU say ignorance is bliss... if you are ignorant of the problem of illegals, then you must be in denial. Do the right thing, obey, and help enforce our laws.
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GETACLUE
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04-18-08 2:39 PM
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Maestle... Why have you ignored the questions I posed to you? Could it be that the answers don't support you arguments? Do you live in East Wheeling ? are you a supporter of non cooperation with police? What crimes will you report and what crimes won't you report?
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Maestle
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04-18-08 2:36 PM
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So your telling me you'd work 16 hours a day? For a few 100$ a month? Total? God, once again, look into adoption.
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Maestle
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04-18-08 2:35 PM
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One last thing, before i go fix my car. I see you said google, and not wikipedia, my mistake. Doesnt change the fact you are wrong lol. Call your doctor, call a travel agency, call any official source you want. Mexicans are not bringing potential plagues or horrible diseases here. The most they might bring is a new strain of the common cold, and since we already have a few 100 of those. I dont thing its much of a problem. But please, call your doctor, and when he sops laughing at you. Maybe you'll finally believe what im saying. Oh, and ONCE AGAIN. MOST MEXICANS WANT TO LIVE HERE, WANT TO CALL THIS HOME, WANT TO PAY TAXES, WANT TO BE ABLE TO VOTE, WANT TO SETTLE HERE FOR THE REST OF THERE LIVES. WE DONT LET THEM COME HERE LEGALLLY. THEY DONT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR SYSTEM. THEY TRY TO STAY UNDER THE RADAR. Granted i did say "MOST", all ethnic groups have people that are lazy and only here to take advantage of us. Hence the white americans using per capita more welfa
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Maestle
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04-18-08 2:12 PM
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LMAO @ momof3. You should be ashamed of your ignorance. First of all, anyone who uses wikipedia as a fact source is a ******* looking for trouble. Mexico doesnt have diseases, that we dont have. OK? You got that? Do you want to check the CDC? You can go to mexico with out shots, they can come here, with out shots. LEGALLY. Because, they have the same diseases, we do. Because, they are right next to us, because, the insects that live in mexico, also live in texas, california, flordia, ETC ETC ETC. Im embarssed to be from the same city as you.
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cory1978
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04-18-08 11:56 AM
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i wonder how the mexicans would feel if americans started illegally crossing the border to get all the jobs we outsource...like ford assambly lines, maytag, dupont chemicals and many many many more
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Momof3
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04-18-08 11:32 AM
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I'd work their jobs at those wages, with no complaints if I got the same fringe benefits they get, no income tax and free medical care!! Where do I sign up for a job like that?!
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