Well, here is another group of migrants that came in illegally and finally got caught. After they were employed, of course. If nobody ever is catching on to false documentation, it is so easy to manufacture these documents. They look and feel real. With the copiers and printers that are on the market, forgers can easily make anything you need..."green cards", social security cards (with actual numbrs), state identifications and driver's license's, and more. Just ask. Pay the fee. Go anyplace in the US and begin to work. However, any employer can verify these documents simply by calling immigration, social security, or notifying the state to verify the document numbers and the names. In Texas, the market is extremely active. Most border states have the forgers, and they are raking in thousands every day. My experience came from working in Texas, Arizona and California, and having to deal directly with the INS on many occasions on illegals being employed where I worked. The INS said that the employers are the ones to be responsible, as well as the illegal immigrants, if hired. Looks like some employers are turning their heads around to this one...again. Is someone tracking the sources of the illegal documentors? Wait until your social security number comes up on an illegal immigrants forged social security card, and watch the Social Security Administration try to straighten out the income and benefit mess.

Why in the hell don't ICE got to the businesses that you know that harbor ilegals every year, and start fineing the dam businesses for hireing them. They know that it is ilegal but they want cheap labor so thats why they do it. I think that they should pay a fine or go to jail. The state of maine is crying about being in debt and keep raising our taxes,well why in the hell don't you collect off these businesses for hireing ilegals as many that comes into this country ,you would make good money to help the state. Or you can tell the ilegals that if they want to live and reap the benefits of the United States,then they have to serve so many years in the military to be able to. Do something rather than deporting them, fine the businesses should be a priority. Wooster Wreaths has been caught how many times so far?

every juan go home.

I agree anon, ICE should be prosecuting the employers alog with the Illegal Aliens. Illegal Aliens from Wocester Wreaths in Harrington have been arrested for years now and nothing has been done to the employer.

Can anyone give me an answer as to why more local, inhabitants of Downeast Maine haven't called their Congressman, Mike Michaud and Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe to complain about the loss of these traditionally held seasonal jobs to a labor force comprised overwhelmingly of illegal aliens? Possibly they have and it is hard to determine if that was done.

At least when the blueberry raking and wreath making was done by local inhabitants, the larger part of the wages earned by the workers was spent locally. Regardless of how one feels about the issue of Immigration and the lack of enforcement of the Immigration law in the Downeast area, the wages earned by those not from this area are not spent is this community, for the most part.

Mainers are too lazy...we also hires kids from other nations to work on the coast in the summer...We have 20% of people in Maine on food stamps and jobs around if you can and want to work. Until we get off our butts , this will continue. `politicians cannot solve this problem....

downbeat, In the meantime if the illegals want to work. Let 'em. (just make sure they pay taxes)

Downbeat : You are one of the businesses that are hireing these people because you want cheap labor, not because mainers are lazy, and if you would stop hireing these people more mainers would be able to get off wellfare so you are one of the ones that are screwing our state so that people cannot find work and we have so many on welfare. Can you say CHEAP LABOR? They send all their money back to honduras and other countries and it doesnt get spent in this state. You should be so proud that you are helping the less fortunate people of maine that are without jobs.

I miss my 60 prong berry rake. Do you? A true downeaster has had his/her hand on a blueberry rake at one time. Now they have porta potties instead of going into the woods. Or use your friends lemonade container. If she only knew LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

anonon..... should I assume you are on food stamps?? I am not an employer that hires these folks. I do talk to business owners and have asked them if they hire for cheap labor or for other reasons as i try to support businesses who do not employ local people. They have told me they pay these folks the same wages, they show up to work, work hard, never complain etc....I would suggest you do some of your own research and maybe you will at least partially agree with me...

downbeat...... you wrote "I try to support businesses who do not employ local people." Did you mean to write I try to support business who DO employ local people?

Another thought for you downbeat, the employers told you these folks (illegals) never complain, did you ever think that the reason why the illegals never complain is that they know if they do they will be told by the employers that a call will be made to Immigration and amazingly the employers have found that pretty much puts an end to complaints. Maybe the workers had valid complaints, such as safety issues. Knowing pyschology/human nature, did you really expect business owners who employ illegals to admit that their motivation is purely monetary, greed i.e... exploiting vulnerable populations for personal gain?