Boston Blotter: Immigration Bust in New Bedford

--A massive immigration bust went down yesterday in New Bedford. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rounded up illegal immigrants who were working for Michael Bianco, Inc., a leather manufacturer involved with producing leather vests and backpacks for US military.

You would think that, given all the talk about illegal immigration in the United States, the government might bother to check on the companies they hire to make sure they don't hire illegal immigration.

But, beyond the issue of immigration, Michael Bianco, Inc. appears to be guilty of shocking workplace violations that sound like human-rights abuses: "Federal investigators allege workers were denied overtime , docked 15 minutes for every minute they were late, and fined for talking on the job, or for spending more than two minutes in the plant's squalid bathrooms."

The ICE doesn't escape criticism, either. Pregnant women were let go, but several young children were left home alone thanks to the arrests. Whatever happens to the employees, the employees of the company are being punished for the owners' lawbreaking. They're trying to feed their families – the owners were trying to pad their wallets, and there's a big difference.

Oh, and wouldn't that make them war profiteers if they earned a government contract and then increased their take by hiring people willing to work for bottom-of-the-barrel rates and in horrible conditions?

--A nasty home invasion took place in Brighton early this morning. A guy opened his door to a knock and then got rushed by three men who beat on him and handcuffed him. His roommate also got handcuffed. The assailants were caught on tape, but they were wearing masks.

All charges alleged until proven under law. Image of real ice, as opposed to ICE, from Flickr user