OUT OF STATE FIRM HIRED FOR REPAIRS TO STATE CAPITOL BUILDING ALLEGEDLY USING ILLEGAL LABOR FOR JOB
Less than a day after the South Carolina Legislature failed to pass a comprehensive immigration reform plan, The Palmetto Scoop has discovered that an out of state firm contracted to make repairs to the statehouse may be using illegal immigrants.
The pictures I have obtained show what appears to be at least three Hispanic men identified as employees of Salem Contracting, a North Carolina-based company. The firm’s truck, parked directly in front of the statehouse steps, had North Carolina license plates.
When asked if they were legal U.S. residents, the men reportedly shook their head side-to-side indicating “no.” Further attempts to communicate with the men in English were allegedly unsuccessful.
I am told that a number of Statehouse officials have become aware of the situation and have attempted to contact immigration enforcement officials.
I am investigating this story and will post more information as it I get it.
Higher res shots:
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 4:35 pm and is filed under Legislature. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Geez! NC firms doing work on our state house? What an insult to business in SC. I saw a NC tagged painters truck by the city parking garage on Sumter St, and painters working on the facility. Now, just add a few illegals who do not pay any taxes like we do and……
Looks as if the old “do as we say, not as we do? symdrome that permeates state government. And why is a NORTH Carolina company working on the SOUTH Carolina statehouse. Boo, HIss
Give me a break.
But you see, when you “let the free market decide,” this kind of stuff happens. Immigration conservatives and business conservatives cannot coexist as Republicans because their agendas directly contradict each other.
Attn Joseph Azar: Do you want the lowest price to the taxpayers or do you want the SC contractors regardless of price? Make up your mind!! In addition , TPS do you have any evidence that these guys are illegal or is this another rush to judgement based on a quick look from a right wing looney?
So… if you use the english language to ask a question of a person who does not speak that language, how exactly does one argue that the answer to this question could contain reliable information?
Which is worse? Either the state employs someone who is probably an illegal immigrant or that the state wastes taxpayer money by paying more for labor than nessecary.
Good work TPS. North Carolina…. illegal immigrants…. hump.
This post is absolutely ridiculous. You see some Hispanic guys on the State House steps and just walk up to them and ask if they’re legal? If they don’t speak English, how does shaking their heads make them illegal immigrants? I love how taking pictures of unresponsive Hispanic people working on someone’s property is now proof that they are hiring illegal immigrants, and I’m amazed that any Hispanic voters at all side with Republicans when they pull this “all Hispanic manual workers must be illegal” crap.
And let’s not even get started on the follies of damaging our economy and public safety with “tough guy” immigration reform.
We need to find some better way to identify illegals. Maybe make them wear stars or tattoos or something…
You win, Snead.
What’s written in this blog is not proof these men are illegal immigrants. They very well may be, but what “Palmetto Scoop” has written here doesn’t meet the minimum standard for publication. After the men said they weren’t “residents,” which could mean any number of things, the post says it was “allegedly” impossible to talk to them in English. Allegedly? Is this information second-hand? And if it is, why isn’t it attributed?
Native Americans say there has always been an illegal immigrant problem in these parts.
loulou
well if it is’nt to hard ?ake them for a green card and see what happens!!!!! that would sovle it !!!!!