Threat of Raids Keeps Illegals at Home

Want to open up some jobs for Americans? Just spread rumors that massive immigration sweeps are planned:

Thousands of illegal immigrants stayed home this week amid rumors of immigration roundups that federal officials say were unfounded, leaving some industries scrambling for workers.

Len Mills, executive vice president of Associated General Contractors of South Florida, estimated at least 50 percent of workers on construction jobs in the region had not shown up for work.

"This is costing millions of dollars a day, and I don't know who is going to pay for it," he said.

Rumors of random sweeps were rampant from coast to coast Friday, prompting many immigrants to stay home from work, take their children out of school and avoid church. Their absences added to immigrants' fears, as some thought their friends and co-workers had been arrested.

Mills said he believed even some legal workers were afraid.

"Everybody's edgy," said Chris Ruske, owner of a southern New Jersey nursery. "There's an awful lot of rhetoric, and you wonder what's true. You wonder if the immigration Gestapo are coming to get you."

The "immigration Gestapo" would, of course, be the Border Patrol. Somehow I doubt that the comparison is valid. Perhaps the "Gestapo" should pay a visit to Mr. Ruske's nursery. Sounds like it would be well worth the trip.

Actually, no such sweeps are necessary. The illegals are planning to gather in large numbers on May Day. Should be easy pickin's for the Border Patrol. As far as I'm concerned, they can throw a fence around L.A. and call it a detention center.