EDITORíS NOTE: The following are the texts from an Oct. 8 exchange of e-mails between Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower and Sonopress Chief Operating Officer Joseph M. Mann-Stadt. This exchange was sent to area news media by Mumpower. The second Mumpower communiquÈ was submitted as a letter to the editor.
ï

Mumpower to Sonopress:
Subject: Employment of Illegal Aliens

Dear Mr. Mann-Stadt,

†Over the weekend I had exposure to a fifth voice speaking to the ìerosion of jobs for locals at Sonopress due to the use of temporary illegal alien contract workers.î† Noting the significant historical impact of Sonopress as a solid area employer, I wanted to share with you what has been shared with me and raise the question as to the validity of this persisting complaint.

†As you know, temporary employees shift the costs for health care and other services to community funded emergency rooms, health departments, and other social service agencies. Further, ìpermanentî temporary jobs displace local workers and, in the case of illegal aliens, help fund the migration of citizens from other countries to the U.S. and create an unlevel playing field for employers who are playing it straight with our employment laws. With your permission, I will take the liberty of sharing the following ó

†Federal Immigration and Nationality Act
Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii)
ìAny person who ... encourages or induces an alien to ... reside ... knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such ... residence is ... in violation of law, shall be punished as provided ... for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs ... fined under title 18 ... imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.î
Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):

A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:

ï Assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or

ï Encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or

ï Knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.

Penalties upon conviction include criminal fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of vehicles and real property used to commit the crime. Anyone employing or contracting with an illegal alien without verifying his or her work authorization status is guilty of a misdemeanor. Aliens and employers violating immigration laws are subject to arrest, detention, and seizure of their vehicles or property. In addition, individuals or entities who engage in racketeering enterprises that commit (or conspire to commit) immigration-related felonies are subject to private civil suits for treble damages and injunctive relief.

The City of Asheville provides information on E-Verify (the federal employment authorization verification system) on our web site at http://www.ashevillenc.gov/business/subpage.aspx?id=8690&ekmensel=28_submenu_76_link_7. In that Sonopress has an on-site temporary employment representative, this might be a resource they would value in assuring that Sonopress does not knowingly betray the law or community trust with unfair hiring practices.

†I look forward to hearing back from you and welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter in greater detail. It will be gratifying to learn that they rumors are unfounded, and that Sonopress continues on its historical course as a strong source of opportunity and employment for Asheville and WNC residents.

†With regards,
CARL MUMPOWER
Asheville City Council
Asheville

Sonopress responds:

Dear Dr. Mumpowcr:

I write in response to your letter dated today concerning what you describe as a rumor that Sonopress LLC employs temporary workers who are not in the country legally and are not authorized to work in the United States.

I do not know the source of such a rumor, but I assure you that Sonopress takes its legal obligations seriously and complies with all applicable laws, including laws requiring employers to verify the work eligibility of prospective employees.

To meet seasonal and other shifting labor demands, Sonopress, like many manufacturers. engages a temporary staffing agency to supply workers on an as-needed basis. Sonopress has sought and received written assurances on a regular basis from Employment Staffing, Inc ìESI,î our temporary staffing agency, that it complies with all laws relevant to the workers it provides to Sonopress, including verification of their authorization to work in the United States. These assurances are requested on a semi (sic) basis.

As you kindly point out in your letter, Sonopress has been a strong source of opportunity and employment in Western North Carolina for many years. Sonopress is remaining on that path and growing at a time when this area has lost; and continues to lose, many manufacturing jobs.

I share your interest in the economic viability of Western North Carolina and I hope this letter has assuaged any concerns you may have had about our employment practices.†††††††††††††††††††††††††††††

Very truly yours,
JOSEPH M. MANN-STADT
Chief Operating Officer, Sonopress. LLC
Weaverville

Report illegals at Sonopress, Mumpower urges readers

Like many of you I find it hard to blame illegal aliens for jumping our borders to escape the corruption and poverty of their home countries. Greater frustrations are reserved for those who provide the jobs and money that funds this flooding migration as well as a President and Congress who persistently avoid action on enforcing our laws.

WNC has become a magnet for illegal migration. Some employers are thriving on the infusion of cheap hard working labor that helps them sidestep the deeper accountabilities of our free market economy. Special attractions are connected to hiring through temporary employment agencies who can offer a false front of legitimacy by winking at fake documentation, social security numbers, and other ID that mask realities.
I wonít repeat the host of reasons that illegal immigration is harmful, but I will point to the loss of jobs and suppressed wages for locals as one impact. Following a small parade of voices speaking to a specific company as an enthusiastic employer of ìillegals who take local jobs,î I decided to raise the question with Sonopress directly. Iíve got a bully pulpit and, more importantly and in spite of the assured counter attacks, the courage to use it.

The response letter I received from the Chief Operating Officer was considerate and open. He offered various assurances that Sonopress follows the law and relies on exacting screens from their on-site temporary agency ó ESI. I appreciated his responsiveness, and took personal note that the unusually high number of non-English-speaking Hispanics being infused into Sonopress points to a remarkable track record in attracting new citizens to the company.

There is a problem with this equation. There are flags that say realities may be being discarded for the benefits of a cheap temporary labor pool that, in turn, counts on taxpayer-supported schools, health clinics, hospitals, and other services to live in our area. If true, thatís an employer-employee equation that has more to do with using than uplifting America.

If your readers can provide names and facts demonstrating that Sonopress is breaking the law by knowingly employing illegal aliens, please let me know directly. The same is true for any major employer in our region who is creating an unlevel playing field for legal WNC residents and employers who are playing it straight.
Sonopress has historically been a good contributor to WNC and it would be nice to know that their unusual success in attracting legal Hispanic citizens is just what they say it is.

Unfortunately, itís a good bet that such will not be the case. In fact the list that I want to bring to their attention already has one name at the top of the page. That would be Jaisidy Terron, the Mexican citizen and mother of five residing in Hendersonville who is facing deportation and accusation of drug involvement. Ms. Terron, by her own public admission, is a former Sonopress employee.