Arizona Immigration: Authorities Raid Sizzler Restaurants, Arrest Undocumented Workers

PHOENIX — Sheriff's deputies raided two Sizzler steak house restaurants in Phoenix on Saturday, arresting nine employees who are suspected of being illegal immigrants and using fraudulent documents to get jobs.

The raids were part of a yearlong investigation into whether the operators of the two Sizzler locations broke a civil law by knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Lt. Brian Lee said in a statement.

Deputies were looking for 23 suspects wanted for identity theft, Lee said. Authorities believe one of the suspects was deported three times and has been hired back by Sizzler each time he returned.

The sheriff's office received a tip from a former Sizzler manager who claimed he had been fired for his refusal to hire employees without the proper documents, Lee said.

"This is another example of a case where desperately needed jobs are being occupied by illegal aliens who have disregarded our laws and our borders," Sheriff Joe Arpaio said in the statement.

Arpaio, known for pushing the bounds for how local law enforcement agencies can confront illegal immigration, frequently raids workplaces in the greater Phoenix area for people in the U.S. illegally.

A message left at one of the two restaurants wasn't immediately returned Saturday afternoon. A manager at the other restaurant declined to provide his name and publicly comment on the raid.

Comments

[Eddy333]

01:42 PM on 07/15/2010

This is shocking. The Sizzler restaurant chain still exists?!

[MidwayShipmate]

02:18 AM on 06/20/2010

mak'em all leave, what part of ILLEGAL od they not understand? No other country on the planet would allow this.

[wolfdogNM]

12:04 AM on 06/20/2010

Well going after the employers is what they should be doing more then going after the undocumented immigrants. If they can't get work with out papers, why come here or stay here.

However, AZ politicos still want to go ahead with the profiling of Hispanics, Native Americans and other swerthy people. Lest we, also, not forget AZ politicos banjning of ethnic studies classes, and now spearheading of a bill to appeal the 14th amendment to the constitution. Do we not see a trend here?

[cloudjungle]

04:54 PM on 06/15/2010

I'd like to know why AZ lawmakers all of a sudden decided they had to do something when Democrats are in power. We had 8 years of no action at all and no reform under Bush but now they have to do something because the Federal Government isn't.

I don;t know if this law is constitutional or not but I'm sure any law to deny citizenship will not be not matter how much people want it to be.

[Roger Williams]

11:05 PM on 06/15/2010

its an election year and the GOP is doing a great job of getting us to focus on anything but our enormous deficit.

their ability to stoop to low levels has no bounds.

[spytheweb]

02:55 AM on 06/16/2010

Better now than never. Even illegals want to know so they can make plans to move out of the country.

[BIG JOHN]

11:54 PM on 06/14/2010

I need a job, moving to AZ. Should be jobs a plenty now.

[wdw505]

12:16 AM on 06/15/2010

too funny

[leslymill]

03:21 AM on 06/15/2010

Amen...and think of all the water those Animals in the deserts can keep.

[CarmanK]

10:30 PM on 06/14/2010

Well the people of AZ are getting what they want. The Hispanic community (legal and illegal) are moving on. So, they should be happy,. that Governor Jan Brewer and her republican cronies are on the ball creating jobs for americans. So, everyone should be happy!!! Does this also mean, that the census for AZ should be delayed or redone? The state is losing population, it stands to reason that they should not get any more reps in Congress than they deserve. But then again isn't that what Michelle Bachmann from MN wants for her state. Don't fill out the census and the govt can't get you. Violate the constitution and that's okay too. So, AZ and MN now have something in common: Spitting on the constitution,

[wdw505]

12:17 AM on 06/15/2010

only every 10 years

[desidid]

03:35 AM on 06/15/2010

Actually this moving population isn't new and has been happening for the last 30 years as large numbers of illegal immigrants move into communities they force citizens to move out. California has been losing it's African American community in record numbers, so who are their Reps. representing? http://www.santaclaraweekly.com/430.html I don't recall anyone going back and recounting after the last Census to account for the other migrations that are a natural result of being pushed out of a community. How do you suggest we remedy that? There is a town on Long Island called Hempstead that community has completely turned over their population in the last 15 years, where did those people go? But I guess when it's Americans doing the moving it doesn't matter.

[wolfdogNM]

12:12 AM on 06/20/2010

Many families American have been moving out of the big cities, not just due to competion for jobs with new immigrants, but also because the housing has become way too expensive in most big cities. People are going to the burbs or rural towns. This pattern is, however, nothing new.

[ctman47]

10:09 PM on 06/14/2010

What about the employers?
They broke the law.

[Roger Williams]

11:08 PM on 06/15/2010

yeah thats the funny part about AZ law and illegal immigrants. we have had a law on the books for a few years now that is supposed to scare employers by suspending their license if caught. its basically a slap on the wrist and it never gets enforced.

[nee]

06:00 AM on 06/18/2010

Maybe now they will enforce it!

[inthedesert]

07:02 PM on 06/14/2010

There will be no "side efffects" of AZs new law much to the chagrin of the pro-illegal "bleeding hearts". If restaurants(or whatever)can't find ACTUAL American citizens to work for them for a decent wage then they SHOULD HAVE TO CLOSE. Who cares?? LOL. All the "blowback" from this law is receding now. Many Americans are starting to see that AZ DOES have the right idea here. The Federal Government refuses to enforce the immigration laws that are on the books right now. The problem for the illegals is that the sentiment against them is builiding very quickly now. I certainly hope AZ passes a new law about the citizenship of the anchor babies...this is long overdue. Illegals will flee to other states if this happens to have their children and THOSE states will be forced to pass similar laws because their social welfare systems will be even MORE burdened. It's now becoming a total no-win situation for these people from Mexico. By 2012, this is going to be a very big issue with the voters. It's going to be interesting to see how the Dems are going to handle this. Most Hispanic voters are Democrats, not Republicans...that party has never embraced Hispanics and it's not going to now or in the future.

[Roger Williams]

11:14 PM on 06/15/2010

you are either not in AZ or very high if you think this is blowing over. people are pissed and its not just hispanics. i for one am not interested in living in a police state where everyone of color is under suspicion.
the implications of 'reasonable suspicion' of ones nationality opens up huge doors for abuse. rational people understand this.
AZ is suffering in ignorance.

[nee]

06:01 AM on 06/18/2010

The MAJORITY of Americans surveyed agree with AZ law!

[mercury613]

05:18 PM on 06/14/2010

Follow up story:

"Tea Baggers riot over Sizzler price hikes due to lack of cheap labor."

[josephking]

05:28 PM on 06/14/2010

So you support cheap/abused labor?

[mercury613]

05:32 PM on 06/14/2010

No, I don't. At all. My point is that right-wingers will be the first to shriek about the side effects of their own "round em up and send em home" attitudes and policies.

[Roger Williams]

11:14 PM on 06/15/2010

funny

[AliceDoc]

05:01 PM on 06/14/2010

Good for you Sheriff Joe... Keep it up.

[Esther in Phoenix]

12:13 PM on 06/15/2010

AliceDoc, can you tell me why he didn't arrest the ILLEGAL students who had a face to face meeting with him? Sheriff Joe prides himself in arrresting REAL CRIMINALS (illegals), but can't understand why he let them go; fully knowing they were undocumented. Please reply.

[elken]

04:44 PM on 06/14/2010

OK to send illegals home...so STOP GIVING OUT UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS ! Go to work overpaid lazy people !

[Nuyorican21]

01:23 PM on 06/16/2010

What's worse? An undocumented worker with a minimum wage job who collects welfare, or a citizen who collects unemployment and won't take the Sizzler Clean Dish Engineer position?

[wolfdogNM]

12:19 AM on 06/20/2010

As long as they are getting an unemployment check bigger then the minimum wagee they ain't going to apply for such jobs.

[peter776]

04:28 PM on 06/14/2010

Keep up the good work, Arizona. You are showing much-needed leadership on the issue of illegal immigration. The eyes of the nation are upon you.

[QuietNetworker]

09:35 PM on 06/14/2010

The stink eye.

The evil eye.

AZ will pay and rue the day.

[wolfdogNM]

12:22 AM on 06/20/2010

Less illegal immigrants = more empty apartments. More empty appartments = more forclosed upon apartment buildings. Less people to be buying goods in stores too. That does not sound good for the AZ economy.

[Esther in Phoenix]

12:14 PM on 06/15/2010

peter776, can you tell me why he didn't arrest the ILLEGAL students who had a face to face meeting with him? Sheriff Joe prides himself in arrresting what you call REAL CRIMINALS, but can't understand why he let them go; fully knowing they were undocumented. Would really like to know your thoughts. Thank you.

[curby 13]

02:41 PM on 06/14/2010

It was great when I drove by one of the locations and saw the raid in progress. I pulled over and started cheering on the Sheriffs department. I thanked them for doing the job that is necessary. I am a native of the Phoenix area and have seen all the problems that has arisen because of the illegals. I am happy that someone in this country takes the law seriously.

[QuietNetworker]

09:35 PM on 06/14/2010

I'd have punched you in your face.

[curby 13]

11:07 AM on 06/16/2010

And I would have you bite the curb for a little cranial reconstruction. You talk so big if your Phoenix let me know. You may get your wish.

[Esther in Phoenix]

12:15 PM on 06/15/2010

curby13, can you tell me why he didn't arrest the ILLEGAL students who had a face to face meeting with him? Sheriff Joe prides himself in arrresting what you call REAL CRIMINALS, but can't understand why he let them go; fully knowing they were undocumented. Would really like to know your thoughts. Thank you

[curby 13]

11:05 AM on 06/16/2010

I believe the reason he didn't arrest them is that they weren't in the proicess of commiting a crime. The people who were arrested during this raid had stolen identities which is a felony. The students did nothing but meet with him and the Sheriff had no evidence of a crime being commited. Remember something has to happen first before he can take custody of them. The Sheriff follows the law.

[nee]

12:52 PM on 06/14/2010

Sizzler needs to be HEAVILY fined and the business license should be pulled!

[curby 13]

02:29 PM on 06/14/2010

If it is found that they hired the illegals knowingly their business license will be suspended for 10 days. The next time they get caught they will lose their license permanently.

[Ravi Abunijad]

12:20 AM on 06/15/2010

Ah, but wont that only affect that specific Sizzler restaurant? It is franchise-based, right? Sneaky corporate charm.

[Nuyorican21]

01:27 PM on 06/16/2010

'knowingly hired' You mean the new law isn't a panacea for illegal migration? Now we have to give everybody either a national ID card that can't be forged or use the notoriously ineffective e-verify (which won't be forge-proof in about 1 year)?

[peter776]

04:33 PM on 06/14/2010

Agreed. Businesses that hire illegal immigrants are oen of the root causes of illegal immigration. We need a federal law that mandates jail time for managers who hire illegal immigrants, and big financial penalties. Then watch how fast the hiring of illegal aliens comes to a halt when there are real consequences for breaking the law.

[Harvee Wallbanger]

11:35 AM on 06/14/2010

Why was the store manager and owner not arrested?

I think when one of your employees gets deported 3 times and each time he comes back you rehire him, you are certainly aware that he is illegal and any papers he shows to gain employment are forged or stolen.

[Esther in Phoenix]

12:16 PM on 06/15/2010

Harvee Wallbanger, can you tell me why Arpaio didn't arrest the ILLEGAL students who had a face to face meeting with him? Sheriff Joe prides himself in arrresting what you call REAL CRIMINALS, but can't understand why he let them go; fully knowing they were undocumented. Would really like to know your thoughts. Thank you