Residents lined up for jobs at Howard Industries
August 29th, 2008 . by BastiResidents lined up for jobs at Howard Industries
LAUREL – About 30 cars were lined up in front of Howard Industries’ Laurel plant today filled with people looking for jobs.
An estimated 350 workers are being held at an undisclosed location following an early morning raid Monday on Howard Industries that officials say is the largest round-up of its type in Mississippi in recent years.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said the 350 employees at a Howard Industries plant in Laurel are in the country illegally.
Federal warrants were issued at the plant early Monday and also at the corporate headquarters in Ellisville.
Shantay Holles, 26, of Heidelberg said she used to work at Howard Industries as an electric tester but was fired last year. She said she is applying today because she heard on the news about the ICE raid.
“That’s all they would hire – Mexican, Mexican, Mexican!” Holles said.
Samantha Stevens, 18, a 2008 graduate of Heidelberg High School, said she couldn’t find a job and she is glad the ICE stepped in.
“We were here first. It’s not fair for them to have a job,” Stevens said.
This once again puts lie to the old saw, ‘Americans’ won’t do these jobs’. What this really means is Americans won’t work for ‘slave wages’ because we know we don’t have to. On the other hand the ‘illegals’ will work for a pittance and be glad to get it. Now we’ve all heard about how that without the ‘illegals’ many jobs just won’t get done. I say if companies won’t pay a decent wage to Americans for doing these jobs, then we don’t need these jobs done.
It is not in the best interests of of the American labor force or the nation as a whole to employer non-Americans in any job!his pretty much puts lie to the old saw of ‘Americans won’t work these jobs’.
