Dream turns nightmare
Arrests of immigrants rattle Milford
Email|Print| Text size – + By Maria Sacchetti
Globe Staff / December 29, 2007
MILFORD - Daniel Tacuri made a name for himself in this town.

Daniel Tacuri , 32, was a typical immigrant who found success through hard work, Tacuri's lawyer and family say.

ARRESTED
more stories like thisWith only a first-grade education, he slipped across the border illegally and eventually started his own roofing business, often hiring immigrants like himself from poor villages in Ecuador. He was raised in a dirt-floor cabin, but in Milford he owned a home worth more than $350,000 off Main Street, along with a small fleet of four vans, a truck, and a jeep.

Before dawn on Dec. 7, federal agents burst into Tacuri's home and arrested him and 14 others for being here illegally, according to relatives. A total of 21 immigrants were arrested following a months-long investigation, but only Tacuri is facing federal criminal charges, for allegedly employing and sometimes housing undocumented immigrants.

The arrests sent a shiver through a town where the Ecuadoran population has swelled from a few people to about 2,000 in recent years. And it has revealed conflicting portraits of Tacuri, one of the pioneering immigrants whom others followed to Milford.

Authorities say Tacuri built his business by exploiting illegal immigrants, including one as young as 13. At its peak, they said, he had 80 employees, some of whom rented rooms in his house. A few workers told authorities that Tacuri did not withhold taxes or pay them overtime.

But his lawyer and family say Tacuri, 32, was a typical immigrant who found success through hard work. He never had more than a dozen employees, some legal and some not, and he did not hire minors, they said. Only relatives lived in his house.

His lawyer, Jeff Ross, said Tacuri is a Cañari Indian, a refugee who fled discrimination and mistreatment of indigenous groups in his native land. Once in the United States he tried to apply for legal residency through a notary, who apparently swindled him, Ross said. Then he applied again in 2005.

"This guy came here seeking the American dream," Ross said. "He tried to do the right thing and got bad advice along the way."

Tacuri, who is being held at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island, was born and raised in the Cañari province, an area known for its verdant fields and pleasant breezes as well as the government's neglect of indigenous groups. As a child, bullies stomped on Tacuri's bare feet because he was too poor to buy shoes, his family said. His mother worked the fields and raised four boys alone. Her boys became farmers, too.

In October 1998, Tacuri was among thousands of Ecuadorans who were heading north to work. They were driven by severe inflation, natural disasters, and political turmoil in the South American nation, according to David Kyle, an associate professor of sociology at the University of California, Davis and author of a book on Ecuadoran immigrants. He said the United States is a powerful attraction for Ecuadorans, who adopted the US dollar as the official currency in 2000.

Tacuri's family said he paid about $7,000 to a smuggler to cross the US-Mexico border, but was caught in Texas. Authorities said he told them he was from Guatemala. Eventually, a judge ordered him deported. Ross said Tacuri never received notice of the court hearing or the order.

By then, he had moved to Newark with thousands of other Ecuadorans and applied for residency the first time. He worked as a roofer for Brazilian immigrants and sent money home to build a house for his mother, plus one for himself, and send his 11-year-old daughter to school.

Four years ago, Tacuri followed his bosses to Milford, where Brazilians are a larger immigrant group, and soon managed to open his own business. Last year, he registered Same Day Roofing with the Secretary of State's office and bought his own house. As his business grew so did his responsibilities. Each month he sent home hundreds of dollars to his extended family. If people here needed cash or a part-time job, he helped them, too.

"He liked to help people," said his brother Antonio, who is also facing deportation. "He remembered how we suffered when we were poor."

Even the town police saw him as a community leader, and regularly reached out to Tacuri for help educating Ecuadorans about the town's rules. But in May, after increasing concerns about his business, police officer Joseph Sherus reported Tacuri's operation to immigration officials.

Chief Thomas O'Loughlin said police do not enforce immigration laws, but they reported Tacuri to federal authorities on numerous occasions on concerns that they were exploiting low-wage workers. Also, he said, town officials had cited him two months earlier for using his home as an illegal boarding house.

"I don't begrudge anyone that works hard and earns a good living. But they made a lot of money," O'Loughlin said. "They were earning money on the backs of other young Ecuadoran men."

Maria Tacuri said her husband did not become rich. Inside Tacuri's house, his main luxuries, a big-screen TV and stereo, stand near a small Christmas tree in a sparsely furnished living room. She said her husband liked Milford, a town of more than 25,000, for its peaceful environment. They baptized their son Jonathan, now 4, in St. Mary's Church.

"He never had problems with anyone," she said.

Wilson Valdez, owner of Unienvios, a variety store on Main Street, said the arrest of someone as prominent as Tacuri is unnerving for immigrants. Some are getting ready to leave, which he said could hurt the town.

"Where do they buy things? They buy them here in Milford," Valdez said. "They support the economy here."

© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
1 2 Daniel Tacuri , 32, was a typical immigrant who found success through hard work, Tacuri's lawyer and family say.

ARRESTED
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Woman hurt when pushed from car during chase

By: JOHN HALL - Staff Writer
NORTH COUNTY TIMES
SAN DIEGO / RIVERSIDE COUNTY , CALIFORNIA

TEMECULA -- A brief chase of suspected illegal immigrants Friday morning left one woman slightly injured after she was pushed from the vehicle being pursued, according to U.S. Border Patrol officials.

The chase started near the immigration checkpoint on northbound Interstate 15 just south of Temecula, said Agent James Jacques, a spokesman at the Border Patrol's San Diego sector office.

"One of the most dangerous things smugglers are doing now is leaving the vehicle in gear as they bail out," Jacques said.

Knowing that pursuing agents will be busy making sure the still-moving vehicle does not injure anyone gives those fleeing a few extra seconds, he said.

In Friday's chase, Jacques said, "It appears a woman was pushed out of the vehicle by someone behind her" as several people tried to get out.

The woman ended up with a dislocated thumb, he said.

Jacques said he did not have information about whether a smuggler or someone else in the vehicle pushed the woman out and whether she was pushed out intentionally to divert pursuing agents.

While Jacques did not have details about where the chase ended, Temecula police were called to assist in the search for those who fled and said it happened near I-15 and Rancho California Road.

Investigator Jerry Franchville, a spokesman for the Police Department, said officers were told of the pursuit around 7:30 a.m. and that Border Patrol agents were looking for about six people who had fled.

Shortly after 8 a.m., Temecula police officers had detained two people who were then turned over to Border Patrol agents, Franchville said.

Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or jhall@californian.com.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/12/29/news/califor.../5_04_9912_28_07.txt

Comments On This Story

Note: Comments reflect the views of readers and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff.

not to be racist... wrote on Dec 28, 2007 11:04 PM:
" This just reassures me that illegal immigration is a problem and our country needs stricter enforcement, laws, or whatever it takes. Yes, I know that there are "law abiding" illegal aliens in our country doing their fair share of work, however in situations like this, they cause trouble. They hit an innocent woman, injuring her, then cause more resources to be expended in the chase afterwards. Our country has enough problems with legal citizens, let alone illegal foreigners.
It is a common occurrence, illegal aliens trying to cash in a paycheck, only to be asked for ID. They say they don't have any and try to weasel their way into getting it cashed. My point is that illegal aliens have a valid reason for being here, but they must follow the proper procedures, even if it means getting caught up in years of political red tape. My parents did, and so did my relatives. It just isn't fair for these people to hold things up in bank lines, cause an accident and have no license/insurance, and not pay income tax. I am all for equality for all legal citizens!! "

The smugglers don't care about the women! wrote on Dec 29, 2007 12:00 AM:
" Please pleases, everyone watch the movie "Border". You will see what these smugglers are doing especially to the women. Unlike what Brigid Brett,NCT opinion writer thinks, the border and what happens to EVERYONE surrounding it is very scary!! Ms. Brigid, they care nothing about the women. The rape trees are everywhere!! "

Women are expendable! wrote on Dec 29, 2007 12:03 AM:
" Just toss the woman out of the car so you can get away. Isn't that nice. The human traffickers are very scary! They bring poor young women into our county as *** slaves. Watch the "Fields of Shame" on you tube. You will see how young Mexican girls are trafficked. Very sad! These girls must be helped! "

Bro Rufus wrote on Dec 29, 2007 5:43 AM:
" Here's another story about ILLEGAL ALIENS! Why do the liberals stand up for the ILLEGAL ALIENS when the ALIENS do stuff like this? Pushing someone out of a car? They should be charged with ATTEMPTED MURDER. This is a fine example of why we need to GET RID OF ALL THE ILLEGAL ALIENS!! If these guys were "immigrants," wouldn't they have a green card or visa? If they don't, maybe it's because they are ALIENS. I wish NCT would not slant its reporting by employing eupemisms like "immigrant" in this sort of context. They're abusing my language. The correct term is ALIEN. "

Renee wrote on Dec 29, 2007 8:46 AM:
" When is this country going to take control of its borders? Other countries do. It is not racist to do so,its to protect the integrity of our country. Some countries require that if you want to migrate to their country, you have to be married to a natural born citizen, have a job lined up and have money in the bank so that you are not a burden on society. Illegal aliens are costing our country more and more each year, they know how to go about it and our country allows it. It needs to stop now... "

Add Your Comments or Letter to the Editor

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/12/29/news/califor.../5_04_9912_28_07.txt

Bill would deny ‘anchor baby’ birth certificates

The architect of Arizona’s new employer sanctions law, which takes effect Tuesday, is crafting a series of new measures aimed at those who enter the country illegally.

Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, said he is introducing measures this session to:

– expand the state crime of trespassing to cover anyone in this country without authorization.

– require proof of legal presence in this country to register a vehicle or get a vehicle title.

– deny workers’ compensation benefits to undocumented workers injured on the job.

– bar local communities from having policies that prohibit police officers from checking the immigration status of those they encounter.

Pearce also has some “cleanup’’ language for the sanctions bill. He said the current wording might allow employers who pay workers cash “under the table’’ to escape the potential loss of license that applies under the new law to anyone else who knowingly hires an undocumented worker.

But the most controversial — and legally questionable — part of Pearce’s package would deny regular birth certificates to babies born in Arizona unless at least one parent proves citizenship.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/105485
http://oneoldvet.com/?p=4342

Old news.

That would do a lot to take away the temptation of jumping the border. Would it past constitutional review is the question?

quote:

Originally posted by davdah:
That would do a lot to take away the temptation of jumping the border. Would it past constitutional review is the question?

I think the majority of Americans are so fed up with the way the Mexican border jumping breedmares have taken advantage of the 14th Amendment (which we both know was created for the sole purpose of inclusion of the descendants of slaves and not illegal aliens born to breedmares) that many groups are calling, faxing and email their representatives in Congress and requesting that it be Amended or Rescinded. As long as the language is crystal clear to even the most ignorant and illiterate of Mexico's border jumping breedmares that American citizenship, welfare, link cards and chain migration is no longer being handed out as a reward for their promiscuous, irresponsible sexual exploits.

ok ..like george lopez and carlos mencia said,,who build that border?

anybody know anything about who's used that welfare system there in the U.S. since who knows when?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: explora,

once again,,who build the border and the fence?lol..if ur building it ,,then u have the right to go on the other side ,,am i right?

Mike, I'm not sure what your saying. Are you saying that if a fence is built people have a right to go over it?

lol,,,sorry ,,spelling mistake ...iam saying who put up the fence?and the border

The border is obviously the border between two distinct nations. The fence was put up for obvious reasons. Just like the people who put up a fence to keep the neighborhood kids from trashing their rose garden. We could also look at the fence east Berlin used to have. It was to keep people in, not out. I guess it depends which way the barbed wire is facing.

lol..come on davdah...u know what i mean

'You Don't Speak for Me,' Legal Hispanic Immigrants Shout
By Alison Espach
CNSNews.com Correspondent
July 20, 2006

(CNSNews.com) - A group of American Hispanics -- legal residents of the U.S. -- are blasting efforts to convert illegal immigrants into "guest workers," arguing that their own pursuit of the American dream is being impeded by the influx of illegal aliens.

"We are American citizens, we're voters. We elect our officials in office right now. Our voices need to be heard, not those of illegal aliens and their well-funded advocates," said Mariann Davies, vice-chairman of the group You Don't Speak For Me (YDSFM). Davies is the daughter of legal immigrants from Ecuador.

Davies told Cybercast News Service that YDSFM has attracted about a thousand members since it was launched earlier this year and represents the majority of Americans and American Hispanics against illegal alien rights.

YDSFM was formed by Col. Al Rodriguez in response to this year's media coverage of Latino and Hispanic "pro-immigration" rallies -- a phrase that Rodriguez said his group resents. YDSFM was angry that the rallies were portrayed as representing the position of all Latinos and Hispanics in the U.S.

In a statement on the YDSFM website, Davies indicated that she first noticed the problems in immigration control when she worked as a college volunteer during the implementation of the Immigration and Control Act of 1986. That law provided legal status to 3.1 million people who had come to the United States illegally.

"I witnessed chaotic and inconsistent paperwork for people with no documentation. It was a mess, and we now know that much of the information provided by illegal immigrants was fraudulent," Davies said.

"We also know that terrorists were also granted amnesty under the 1986 program, something that should shock and anger all Americans. We also know that all 19 hijackers from September 11 took advantage of our legal system, staying here on expired or fraudulent visas to wage their war of terror," she added.

Davies said she is outraged by more recent problems linked to the illegal immigration problem, such as the "84 hospitals that have closed emergency rooms in California" because of excessive illegal alien use and "the massive amount of public dollars that have been spent educating illegal alien students and children of illegal aliens."

According to a Federation of American Immigration Reform (FAIR) report, the "utilization rate of hospitals and clinics by illegal aliens (29 percent) is more than twice the rate of the overall U.S. population (11 percent).

"How about social services programs that are meant for our own most vulnerable citizens?" Davies asked. "How about school districts that are overrun and having to have bilingual education and thousands and thousands of non-English speaking students who are taking resources away from the rest of the students?"

Davies said many school districts are forced to eliminate programs in arts and music "because they have so many non-English speaking illegal alien children that they have to spend the money on special services and teachers and social workers for them."

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) -- an advocacy group for Latino rights -- said YDSFM's point is not the one shared by most Hispanics and Latinos.

"The majority of Latinos do support comprehensive immigration reform," said Michele Waslin from NCLR.

Waslin favors President Bush's "guest worker" provision, which would provide many current undocumented immigrants new legal channels for working in the U.S. and an eventual path to citizenship. The U.S. Senate's version of immigration reform includes the "guest worker" provision, but the bill passed by the U.S. House does not. The House bill also calls for a fence along the U.S. border, a crackdown on alien smuggling rings and those who illegally enter the U.S. It would establish a system for employers to verify the legal status of the people they hire as well.

According to a Pew Hispanic immigration study this month, 56 percent of American Hispanics said that they would participate in a pro-immigration rally; 52 percent favored a policy that provided a path to citizenship for undocumented migrant workers; 41 percent said they thought some undocumented workers should be eligible for citizenship and only 5 percent said all undocumented immigrants should be blocked from citizenship

But Davies argued that the Senate legislation would reward illegal aliens with "amnesty" and is "not a solution to what is happening in this country."

"It is completely unfair to every single immigrant who has played by the rules, including those who have pending applications and have been waiting outside of this country for years," said Davies.

YDSFM also criticized President Bush for his approval of the bill that would allow millions of illegal aliens to remain in the country.

"The president tries to justify this, saying they are going to have to wait 11 years to go through the process," said Ira Mehlman, spokesperson for YDSFM and FAIR. "That, he says, is going to the back of the line.

"But for the people who broke the law, the back of the line forms here in this country; whereas people who have been playing by the rules, the back of the line is in some other country," he added.

State governments have stepped up their immigration enforcement, passing 57 bills this year that cut benefits for illegal immigrants and place sanctions on employers who hire them. For example:

- Georgia lawmakers passed a bill that sanctions employers who hire illegals and forces people seeking benefits to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship. The bill also mandates that police check the legal status of those they arrest;
- Colorado employers must now show that recent hires are of legal status. Colorado also banned non-emergency services to illegals;
- Louisiana's new legislation allows any state agency to investigate an employer's hiring practices if it is suspected that illegals are being hired. All employers who do not cooperate can be fined.

If more similar legislation is passed and enforced, Mehlman claims "the supply of jobs will dry up [for illegals], fewer people will come, and in fact, many people will get discouraged and decide to leave."

"That's the way you enforce laws. You make an example out of enough employers and everyone starts to get the message," added Mehlman.

But Waslin's group stated that legislation focusing on border enforcement is useless. "We have seen enforcement-only approaches for the past 20 years and they obviously have not worked," said Waslin.

diggin' in the archives now, eh?
thanks for workin' for me!