The seizure proceedings are on hold while federal agents investigate whether Robert Bontempo Jr. harbored and employed illegal immigrants in violation of federal law, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
Marcia Murphy, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said Friday that Mr. Bontempo's bank accounts remain frozen and liens remain filed against his homes while the forfeiture hearings are pending. That way, she said, he can not sell or give...
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Criminals - 2008-11-14 07:58:21
At first it was ridiculous now it is comical that the bleeding hearts who don't care that ILLEGALS are stealing money and services call those of us who want it stopped racist. That one word is your only defense. Call me anything you want just stay out of the way when these criminals, of all ages, are sent back to their motherland.
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sad....sad....sad.... - 2008-11-13 18:09:01
It saddens me to see how most of you are so hateful, unamerican, and straight up scared.
they are a beautiful people. contribute immensley to our economy. seriously, how can everyone get so fired up about this when there are so many other things to do, like read a book!
and to say they're criminals?
stealing our jobs? that is a lie. any american that "cant" get a job, is just lazy.
So the 2 year old that is illegal that was brought here to get a better life and an education, i guess he's also a criminal?
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Sarah C. - annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Sweet - 2008-11-13 14:01:09
The Free Speech Police are here.
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Comment removed by HometownAnnapolis staff. - 2008-11-13 13:26:46
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Correction - 2008-11-13 12:55:30
My third point was directed at Brian A. Let's give "credit" where credit is due.....
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Gideon W. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Comment removed by HometownAnnapolis staff. - 2008-11-13 12:51:30
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Great article! - 2008-11-13 11:18:39
This is very informative information and I hope the Capital continues to report on this case. I look forward to the day Mr. Bontempo and others in his family are sent straight to jail. He, and his family, have enslaved others and should be held as a message to others with the same intentions.
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Solve Real Problems First - 2008-11-12 17:08:10
Detailed studies by a range of respected institutions (Harvard; Yale; Congressional Budget Office) note that the cost of illegal immigrants, while somewhat high in a few cities, is mostly low, and many areas receive a net benefit. Many ?illegals? contribute payroll taxes and sales taxes, and boost company earnings, resulting in increased tax revenue. They lower the cost of services that their employers provide us and, if you have a high school degree or higher, are unlikely to compete with you for a job. In most areas, a far smaller percentage of them use public services than many here seem to assume. Chances are that, if you randomly selected an illegal immigrant and studied his impact, you would find that he is less of a drain than you are. As for focusing on the word ?illegal,? do you ever exceed the speed limit? Have you always declared all tips on your tax returns? In other words, are you an ?illegal,? too? I am far more concerned about someone who selfishly speeds and thereby endangers me and my family than I am with someone who works his hands to the bone to feed his family. I also see the irony with folks, who apparently have a lot of online chat time during the workday, becoming so angry and focused on those who, while breaking the law, are doing so by busting their butt to provide us with services. That does not mean that we ignore our laws, but it does mean that we should first concentrate our very limited law enforcement resources where they are most needed. In most jurisdictions, I believe that focusing on employed illegal immigrants distracts from much more pressing law enforcement issues and wastes tax dollars. The focus needs to be on increased static border security and gang task forces. Rounding up employed ?illegals? should be pretty far down the list -- assuming that your concern truly is one of economics and public safety.
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Nils - 2008-11-12 08:48:17
It must be nice to be a simple liberal. Everything is Bush's fault. I can't get a date on Saturday, because Bush is tapping our phone lines, I can't play D and D because Bush sent all my players are over in Iraq, I can't make my organic jambalaya because there are no gulf shrimp because Bush didn't help New Orleans, wah wah wah.
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O'Malley or Bush? - 2008-11-11 22:09:45
Illegal immigrants shouldn?t be able to get drivers? licenses. That said this issue isn?t of Gov. O?Malley?s making. During Gov. Ehrlich?s administration Del. Herb McMillian proposed a bill to prevent undocumented immigrants from getting licenses in three successive legislative sessions. A story from The Capital in 2004 says ?state law does not allow the MVA to turn away illegal immigrants.? A Washington Post story from this January says that Gov. O?Malley ?rejected a proposal to issue separate driver?s licenses to undocumented immigrants?saying that Maryland should comply with the (federal Real ID law).? O?Malley is quoted as saying ?we should not allow Maryland to become an island virtually alone on the East Coast by not requiring proof of legal residence for licenses.? That was a complete change of direction for the state MVA. It may be unfortunate that it?ll be another year before it takes effect but since when can the state do anything without thinking about it for a year or two? How are all these immigrants getting to Maryland? George Bush has been in charge of the U.S. borders for the last eight years. What's he done to stop the flood?
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Nils Pedersen - Arnold, MD - Karma: Excellent
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And Mike O.... - 2008-11-11 18:03:06
a very well thought out, well explained comment. Thank you for posting that. If they want to stay here and be a part of the "American Dream", well let's put them in the highest tax bracket and make them pay back some of what they owe to our country, make their employers pay for a health plan so that those of us who do pay into a health plan don't have to constantly see OUR premiums rise to help "foot the bill" for the illegals who use emergency rooms for every minor ache & pain, and make sure their tax money goes into the public schools and hospitals just like the rest of us. Bravo Mike. Any chance you might be running for Governor anytime soon? O'Malley is turning Maryland into El Salvador with each passing day,a nd things aren't going to change until we get rid of him. Hey, speaking of that, can we IMPEACH O'MALLEY for knowingly aiding and abetting illegals?
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Brian A. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
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Can we sue CASA? - 2008-11-11 17:55:00
CASA knowingly helps illegal aliens in our state. According to a FEDERAL LAW, a person (including a group of persons, business, organization or local government) commits a federal felony when he:
* assists an alien whom he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him to obtain employment,
* encourages that alien to remain in the U.S., by referring him to an employer, by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or
* knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions. CASA does all of these things, so WHY are they allowed to continue to aid and abet illegal aliens??!!! Why can't we, as legal taxpaying citizens, find a lawyer or legislator who will stand up for us, protect our rights, and SHUT DOWN CASA FOR GOOD! It is repulsive to know that our tax dollars are being used to aid & abet illegal aliens!
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Brian A. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
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Criminality - 2008-11-11 17:29:53
Robert Bontempo will walk and get all his money back. He had them on payroll, and was making deductions for tools etc. so they werent 1099'd if the article is accurate.
Chances are every employee presented 2 forms of ID and signed the I9 form. Chances are all of em had fake ID's. Identity verification is not the employers problem under the current system. Chances are they will nail 45 illegals as having committed Identity fraud and mr. bontempo will get his houses, porsche, and cash returned to him. Otherwise they'd have to prove willful disregard of IRCA law, e.g they KNEW the docs were fake. proving what someone knew when is pretty hard to do, esp. if he is otherwise in compliance, paying soc security/medicare taxes, unemployment, etc. (no accusation of tax fraud). Same thing happened with meatpacking raids in the midwest/colorado.
How OMalley enters into Federal Labor Law or Border Security is beyond me. The laws are put in place by the Sec. of Labor (Mitch McConnell's wife Elaine Chao) whose focus has been to reduce enforcement actions and reduce the burdens on Employers. There are 2 enforcement agents serving PA/MD/DE/VA/WV where in the 90's there were 10+. Solution: give an 'orange card' to anyone who wants one and is here already and is working. They pay the top tax rate of 39%. They dont get to file a return. The employer is required to provide them with a health plan. The money goes to schools/hospitals. In return, their kids will go to school and they can stay and work 90 hours a week for low pay.
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mike o. - Crownsville, MD - Karma: Neutral
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LMAO!!!! - 2008-11-11 14:31:30
Rudolph, that has got to be the funniest thing I have ever read....
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Don Williams - Davidsonville, MD - Karma: Terrible
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It's not wrong - 2008-11-11 14:28:55
to come here legally either.
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200 Years Ago - 2008-11-11 13:56:07
200 years ago many might have been railing against the criminal escaped slaves or the illegal roving Indians. Just because it's illegal for these hard working folks to come here looking for a better life does not mean that it's wrong!
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Rudolph D. - Annapolis., MD - Karma: Neutral
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Brian A - 2008-11-10 18:53:08
we are stuck. Giving 300,000 drivers licenses to illegal aliens, ensures that O'Malley has 300,000 votes, as long as he gives away our money to CASA. We will have to count on our local and state media to expose this problem. Sorry, I was stuck coming up with something that will happen, cows flying is so cliche, before the Maryland media is critical of a Democrat.
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What can we do??!!! - 2008-11-10 18:30:19
Seems like there's enough of us furious over the fact that O'Malley has pretty much made Maryland a sanctuary state, so what can we do next? I've written to legislators. I've written to O'Malley. Nothing is changing. O'Malley even filed for an extension in regards to the Real I.D. Act, so illegals can continue to get driver's licenses in Maryland until 2010. Does anyone have any other ideas of what we can do? What steps can we take in hopes to shut down CASA for good? What can we do to end taxpayer support of illegal aliens? It seems incredibly unfair that I am a legal citizen, I work hard, yet I am being forced to pay taxes that are used to aid & abet illegal aliens. Does anyone have any concrete ideas of what our next step should be?
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Brian A. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
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BTW - 2008-11-10 18:04:25
if the criminals work as independent contractors, Annapolis Painting does not have to do withholding.
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Peter D. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible
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Does anyone else - 2008-11-10 18:01:06
see the irony in that O'Malleys contribution to CASA, $1.2M-(forcefully donated to O'Malley by Maryland law) is only topped by the Socialist Dictator Chavez?
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One way to promote change - 2008-11-10 17:54:37
Go to this site and sign up to get information on rallies & boycotts against illegal aliens, CASA of Maryland, and ways to end illegal immigration in Maryland:
http://www.helpsavemaryland.com/
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Comment removed by HometownAnnapolis staff. - 2008-11-10 17:03:31
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Comment removed by HometownAnnapolis staff. - 2008-11-10 16:52:07
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STOP THE INVASION!!! - 2008-11-10 16:50:29
STOP THE INVASION!!!
UNITED STATES BORDER APPREHENSIONS (Source DHS/CBP)
1987--1,190,488------1995--1,394,554------2003----931,557
1988--1,008,145------1996--1,649,986------2004--1,160,395
1989----954,243------1997--1,412,953------2005--1,189,075
1990--1,169,939------1998--1,555,776------2006--1,089,902
1991--1,197,875------1999--1,579,010------2007----876,704
1992--1,258,482------2000--1,676,438------2008----723,825
1993--1,327,259------2001--1,266,213------2009----(beginning 10/01)
1994--1,094,717------2002----955,310
FACT: In the last 22 years, over 26 million illegals, have been apprehended, after crossing the border, into our United States.
THE PROBLEM IS: Less than 1, out of 4 illegals, are estimated to have been apprehended.
Mind boggling, isn't it.
According to the U.S. Immigration Service another 6 million illegals in this country are visa overstays. That is, they got a visa legally in their home country, they came here to visit and then they never left.
In the last 22 years, there have been another 4 million anchor babies born to illegals. Anchor babies are now being born at a rate of 350-400 thousand per year in our United States. All at our expense!!
Then the ANCHOR BABIES qualify for welfare, food stamps, section-8 housing, all at our expense.
American Taxpayers are getting screwed, over, and over, and over, again!!!
Each illegal immigrant, on average, costs taxpayers $9,000 PER YEAR, over, and above, anything they might contribute in taxes!!!
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Buzz Mansoor - San Jose, CA - Karma: Neutral
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Illegals - 2008-11-10 16:48:55
Let this be a warning shot across the bow of all companies that have illegals working for them. I.C.E. needs to keep setting examples, and meting out jail terms, along with seizing all of their assets. This can do wonders for helping to force the illegals to leave our country. Great job I.C.E.
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Buzz Mansoor - San Jose, CA - Karma: Neutral
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Facts: - 2008-11-10 15:59:58
It is estimated there are approximately 268,000 illegal aliens currently living in Maryland. That means 268,000 "residents" not paying into our tax system, yet using our public schools for their children and our emergency rooms as their primary health care physicians. It is also estimated that the MVA currently hands out roughly 2,000 licenses to undocumented workers EACH WEEK. That number will only grow now that we are the last state on the east coast to hand out drivers licenses to illegals. For those of you who have children, you may have noticed special programs like music, art & sports have been downsized. This is because more money now needs to be spent to hire ESOL teachers (English as a Second Language) to handle the tremendous influx of Spanish-speaking children that are entering Maryland schools. Illegal immigrants are a strain on our economy, they are causing our taxes and health care premiums to rise, and they are creating negative population growth in our state. It's time for the legal, taxpaying, hard-working citizens of Maryland to take a stand and urge our state politicians to end taxpayer support of illegal aliens!
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Brian A. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
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What the.... - 2008-11-10 14:54:29
What part of the word I L L E G A l L is it that people like you don't understand Mike? It just blows my mind. Since we have bleeding hearts out there who don't mind footing the bill for criminals then why wont you pay more and remove the burden from those of us who want no part of I L L E G A L S. And yes when I am getting estimates to have work performed I ask all companies if they use I L L E G A L S, If the answer is yes I will not hire them and tell anyone who will listen not to as well.
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Don Williams - Davidsonville, MD - Karma: Terrible
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burden - 2008-11-10 13:28:27
Mike o:As far as Americans being tax burden if they make under #50.00 per year,why import more burdens. As to raising wage,as long as the illegals are here,wages will never rise.Also their presence here puts housing costs almost out of reach. I don't Know about MD,but here in Los Angeles,a lot of them live 10 to 20 in one unit,(I am not kidding) and can afford $2,ooo per month rent for a 3 bedroom apt..
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Taxes - 2008-11-10 12:22:27
They've investigated APS up and down and they have not been accused of not withholding payroll taxes. So if APS is collecting taxes from people who arent filing tax returns I dont see the connection to overburdened schools/hospitals. The withholding tables over withhold, you file a return to get money back. If APS is evading paying taxes, go directly to jail, just like Jerry hardesty. Sure they dont pay enough in taxes to cover the services they use. Neither does anyone else making under 50k a year, cost per pupil at school alone is nearly 10k, if you have 2 kids in school, you'd have to make 95k just to pay for your kids in school, assuming roads, bridges, cops, parks, etc. were free.
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mike o. - Crownsville, MD - Karma: Neutral
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CASA is anti-American! - 2008-11-10 12:05:02
I cannot believe our tax dollars are being used to fund CASA, and that we as tax payers have no say in the matter. CASA finds jobs for illegal aliens (at OUR expense) while our own legal, taxpaying trade skill American workers are losing jobs in record numbers due to an ailing economy. Hugo Chavez, (YES, THE TERRORIST FINANCIER ANTI-AMERICAN DICTATOR HUGO CHAVEZ) recently gave CASA of Maryland a $1.5 million donation. What a slap in the face to American citizens to know that a corrupt dictator such as Chavez can funnel money into a pro-illegal alien organization. This donation was not intended to help the American worker. It was intended to be a slap in the face to our government and speaks volumes about the corruption that occurs within the walls of the CASA organization. I wish I knew what we could do to stop this. I wish we could find a civil rights lawyer who would be willing to file suit on behalf of the legal taxpaying citizens in Maryland who are sick and tired of our rights being trampled upon by CASA of Maryland. Indeed it is a joke hearing them gripe about the tax dollars used to fund the recent illegal immigration raids. I personally applaud ICE officials and encourage them to continue to use my tax dollars to conduct raids until every illegal alien is out of my state. And out of my country. It saddens me to know that American trade skill workers are losing their jobs and struggling to pay bills while illegal aliens continue to work, continue to send money home to their country, and continue to evade taxes.
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Brian A. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
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I agree... - 2008-11-10 11:20:15
I like the way you think Brian A. something needs to be done by CASA now!! I find it so funny that CASA want's to know how much this raid cost the taxpayers. I mean really how much does CASA think these illegal aliens are costing the taxpayers most of them have no health insurance, they are able to claim on welfare, WIC and unemployment. I would like to thank the fine men and woman that operated in this raid for saving us a lot of money. CASA and the O'Mally administration should be ashamed of themselves. CASA needs to be shut down now, ingorance is no excuse for the law. CASA is breaking the law by helping these criminals they are aiding and abetting illegal aliens like Brian A. said and it is wrong. The O'Mally administration needs to stop giving CASA money to fund them and they need to shut them down. CASA and O'Mally are stealing your jobs, money, future, well being, and most of all our integrity. It needs to stop and it needs to stop now. As a community we need to take a stand and say what is happening is wrong and we will not stand for this behavior any more.
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M. C - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Please Mike..... - 2008-11-10 11:11:42
none of us are "blaming the brown skinned guy who doesn't look like us or speak our language". Illegal aliens are criminals. They use our tax payer funded services like public school education and emergency health care without paying into our tax system. They create negative population growth in our communities. They are flocking into our state since we are the last state on the entire east coast that still recklessly hands out drivers licenses to illegals. This is NOT an issue of race, so how dare you try to spin this into some racial profiling nonsense. Illegal aliens are criminals because they are breaking our laws each day they spend in our country without proper documentation to be in this country. The color of their skin has nothing to do with my disgust over them using MY country to their advantage without being here lawfully and paying into our tax system.
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Brian A. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
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Free market? - 2008-11-10 10:59:52
The workers thought they got a great deal or they wouldnt work. The employer thought he got a great deal or he wouldnt be in business, the homeowners got a great deal or they wouldnt have hired APS. No one held a gun to anyone's head here. Bontempo withheld taxes on wages, obviously, they are citing 'improper deductions for tools' not tax withholding issues. I'm trying to figure out who is harmed beyond the painters union. If the workers are illegal, and providing fake ID's, the employer collects taxes and the fake worker never files a return (which usually delivers a tax REBATE for this kind of employee). So the problem seems to be that they cost too much in services relative to the amount of money they are taxed on. Answer, remove the tax deduction per child. Raise wages. Raise taxes. OR Lower the services the govt delivers to EVERYONE.
None of those solutions are as popular as blaming the brown skinned guy who doesnt look like you or speak your language.
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mike o. - Crownsville, MD - Karma: Neutral
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We need a lawyer - 2008-11-10 10:13:49
The legal, taxpaying citizens of Maryland need a good lawyer to represent all of us. A lawsuit should be filed against CASA of Maryland for aiding and abetting illegal aliens. Our rights are being violated because the state is using our tax dollars to help fund CASA, and this in turn is encouraging more and more illegals to come to our state. Our safety is being put in jeopardy each day since Maryland also hands out drivers licenses to illegal aliens, and allows these criminals to operate motor vehicles on our roads. Legal, taxpaying citizens are losing their trade skill jobs to illegal aliens who are being hired by slime ball employers who are looking for cheap labor. Enough is enough. I say we band together, sue CASA for aiding and abetting illegal aliens, and shut them down for good.
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Brian A. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
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Birds of a Feather... - 2008-11-10 09:52:28
Birds of a feather flock together. Illegal activities by some business owners florish by hiring irregal workers. It boggles my mind how these companies claim to be bonded and insured. Sounds like more fraud to me. I am glad to see Bontempo POSSIBLY being held accountable for his part. I hope this doesn't turn into another ISLAND thing!
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Debbie F. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Restaurants?? - 2008-11-10 08:59:53
In addition to painting and landscape companies, the Feds need to investigate restaurants. Remove the demand for the illegals and their numbers will be reduced automatically. CASA is a complete farce and needs to be closed pronto. How much is the State of MD paying for THEM?
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Nick W. - Davidsonville, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Which is more criminal - 2008-11-09 19:27:53
Hiring illegals, the State giving $1.2M to groups that help illegals find jobs, or that there is no mention of O'Malleys role in supporting CASA. If Ehrlich had was still in office, and he was giving $1.2M a year to thism it would Republican Ehrlich this, or The republican governor of Maryland. But, nope this is the C()aptial.
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Peter D. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible
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Shut Down CASA - 2008-11-09 15:14:10
Why do we allow hate groups like CASA de Maryland to operate? They are working to subvert our immigration laws any way they can.
Racist groups like CASA should be shut down. Why do we allow them to operate?
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Kevin Lee - Las Vegas, NV - Karma: Neutral
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Take it all!!!!!!!!! - 2008-11-09 14:33:28
Take it all and give it to some poor folks in AA county!! I agree with A. Buster in HI. I work 50+ hrs a week just to survive. I wish I could afford 1 home let alone 14! And I'm a proud US born american!
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Marie J. - arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Illegals - 2008-11-09 13:30:09
Who is most at fault here? The immigrants are desperate people of little means. They know they're breaking the law but they come anyway. Or is it employers who hire them? They see a readily available source of labor that they can take advantage of be it by paying low wages or worse. Or are they American consumers who insist on Wal-Mart pricing for everything from their TVs to their lawncare or home contractor? Illegals are like drugs coming into the country. As long as there are addicts there will be drugs. As long as there are employers who hire illegals they'll keep on coming. And as long as we want cheaper services employers will keep hiring them.
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Nils Pedersen - Arnold, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Parasites.... - 2008-11-09 09:55:01
Those greedy miscreants who unlawfully employ invaders are literally not only giving the middle finger to American workers, but stealing from them as well.
Illegal aliens are criminals and parasites, one and all. Their very presence here and practically everything they do on U. S. soil is illegal. They need to be ferreted out, rounded up like cattle, punished for their numerous crimes, then booted back to whence they snuck in from with such extreme prejudice that they will never, ever think of violating our sovereignty again. Enough is enough.
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Aztlan Buster - Wailuku, HI - Karma: Neutral
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Criminals... - 2008-11-09 09:07:50
Thank you, this is the message that needs to be sent to the companies that hire these criminals. Keep up the good work.
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Don Williams - Davidsonville, MD - Karma: Terrible
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