News

With foreign workers filling jobs traditionally held by teenagers and young adults, the Washington Post reports today that the youth jobless rate for June was at its highest level in the last 60 years, according to a new study. Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies analyzed Labor Department data and found that only 37 percent of teenagers ages 16 to 19 were employed nationwide, compared with 51 percent in June 2000.

Nineteen former Pilgrim's Pride workers have pleaded guilty to misusing Social Security numbers in order to gain employment at a Texas plant. These convictions stem from the April ICE raids of Pilgrim's Pride facilities in five states. These individuals, all illegal aliens of Latin American origin, have been handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for possible deportation. The April ICE raids were the culmination of a year-long investigation by ICE into the fraudulent use of Social Security numbers.

The May 12 enforcement action at the Postville, Iowa meatpacking plant yielded 389 rank-and-file arrests, but no managerial arrests until yesterday when the first supervisors were taken in custody. The New York Times reports two supervisors were charged with securing false documents for illegal aliens and a warrant was issued for the arrest of a third person, who is described as a plant manager. 270 of the illegal aliens arrested were sent to federal prison on fraudulent document charges.

The Associated Press reports that Prince William County Board Chairman Corey Stewart links the decline in certain types of crime last year to the County's efforts to reduce illegal immigration. The Virginia County released a study in late June that says homicides dropped by 44 percent from 2006 to 2007. Also, during the same time period, the number of rapes fell 33 percent, robberies declined 23 percent, and aggravated assaults dropped by 18 percent.