Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 6 June 2018

Immigration agents arrest

114 at Ohio landscaper

raids in recent years. and another in nearby on the operation.
The operation was part Castalia. U.S. Immigration Corso's describes itself as
of the White House's and Customs Enforcement a family-owned company
increasing focus on said it expected criminal that serves seven states
businesses that hire people charges including identity with a 160,000-square-
in the country illegally theft and tax evasion. foot (15,000-square-meter)
amid a broad range of No criminal charges were greenhouse and additional
immigration crackdowns filed against the company, 200,000 square feet (19,000
A government agent takes a suspect into custody during
an immigration sting at Corso's Flower and Garden Center, under President Donald but the employer is under square meters) to grow
Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Castalia, Ohio. Trump that include investigation, authorities perennials. Its Sandusky
Associated Press stepped-up deportations, said. Two locations facility is on the city's busiest
targeting of sanctuary cities were searched, and road amid hotels and fast-
By JOHN MINCHILLO and were arrested Tuesday and zero-tolerance border Khaalid Walls, an agency food joints that cater to
ELLIOT SPAGAT when about 200 federal policies. The 114 arrests spokesman, said "a tourists who drive by in the
SANDUSKY, Ohio (AP) — officers descended on occurred at two locations large volume of business summer on their way to
More than 100 workers at the business and carried of Corso's Flower & Garden documents" were seized. Lake Erie and Cedar Point
an Ohio gardening and out one of the largest Center, one in Sandusky, The operation drew amusement park.
landscaping company workplace immigration a resort city on Lake Erie, criticism over its heavy Securing such sprawling
show of force that involved facilities typically involves
aircraft surveillance and a an enormous law
large contingent of federal enforcement presence to
agents to round up workers secure the perimeters.
at a family business. It Josie Gonzalez, a Los
also highlights a tightrope Angeles attorney who
President Donald Trump's represents businesses
administration is walking on immigration matters,
as it seeks to please questioned why the arrests
immigration hawks but risks couldn't have been made
alienating business-friendly with fewer resources,
Republicans struggling to perhaps by visiting worker
find enough workers in a homes based on addresses
tight job market. Corso's provided to
In April, agents made authorities. She suspects
about 100 worker arrests the government wanted
at a meatpacking publicity. "Government is
plant in rural Tennessee, overreaching and trying
another high-profile show to make a big splash,
of force reminiscent of instill fear in the business
President George W. Bush's community and immigrant
administration. No criminal communities and make
charges have been filed the headlines," she said.
against the employer. "It's a tremendous use of
Tuesday's operation was resources to accomplish
carried out with quiet that purpose."
efficiency. At the Castalia The investigation into
facility — covered with trees, Corso's began in October
flowers and greenhouse 2017 when the U.S.
tarps — no workers were Border Patrol arrested a
seen running as about 100 woman who gave stolen
law enforcement officials identity documents to
established a perimeter. job applicants in the
A voice on a radio called country illegally, said
attention to specific Steve Francis, head of U.S.
employees who might try Immigration and Customs
to flee, but none did. Enforcement's Homeland
Corso's did not return a Security Investigations unit
message seeking comment in Detroit.q