One of the fears that many immigrants have in the United States, whether they have the legal permission to remain here or not, is that they will be taken advantage of. For the most part, those fears are unfounded in East Windsor, but, on occassion, there are stories of American citizens infringing on immigrants' rights or outright abusing them. In a recent story of widespread abuse, nine people were arrested for their alleged involvement in a "modern-day plantation system."
Federal officials have arrested the managers and owners of 14 different 7-Eleven convenience stores in certain parts of the country on suspicion of hiring immigrants without necessary work authorizations and paying them very little for very long hours.
Not only did the managers and owners hire individuals who apparently lacked the permission to be in the country, but they also forged identities for them, stealing Social Security numbers from children and the deceased. In one case, the managers apparently even used the same Social Security number for two different people at the same time. Another immigrant was given the Social Security number of somone who had worked for the store more than 10 years prior.
The allegations also spell out the dangerous living and working conditions. The employees were generally only paid $300 to $500 per week, but they were expected to work approximately 100 hours per week. In addition, many of these immigrants were also crammed into close living quarters in apartments owned by the store owners.
As of now, the federal government will not deport the immigrant workers, but it is unknown if they will be subject to deportation following the managers' and owners' criminal trials.
Source: The New York Times, “U.S. Seizes 14 7-Eleven Stores in Immigration Raids,” Mosi Secret and William K. Rashbaum, June 17, 2013
