Phoenix ICE Agents Raid Business!

Today's batch of press releases from ICE included several noteworthy announcements: an impressive successful MS-13 gang prosecution in San Francisco, the continued steady implementation of Secure Communities, and the usual report of a child porn case. But one in the group caught my eye: "ICE Seizes Counterfeit NFL Jerseys in Phoenix."

The release tells of how several on-the-ball ICE agents took action to protect Phoenix sports fans from purchasing knock-off NFL jerseys with a dramatic raid on a sports memorabilia store. They seized 163 illegal jerseys. The local ICE office had been tipped off by a "concerned citizen."

Are they kidding? This is a marquee case for the Phoenix ICE office? As in Phoenix, Arizona, the state with more than half a million illegal aliens, where 12 percent of the workforce is estimated to be illegal aliens, where more than 300,000 people are unemployed, and even more underemployed, the kidnapping capital of the nation, where more than one out of five felony crimes are committed by illegal aliens. Would the local ICE investigators respond so quickly to a tip from a citizen concerned about a local business hiring 163 illegal aliens?

Here's the press release below, with my edits to show what I believe most Americans would rather hear from ICE. But don’t hold your breath. One of these days I half expect to get one that reads: "ICE Agents Rescue Kitten Stuck in Tree."

ICE seizes counterfeit NFL jerseys arrests illegal workers from Phoenix stores

PHOENIX - More than 160 counterfeit NFL jerseys illegal workers were seized from two Phoenix sports memorabilia stores Friday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The businesses were targeted for investigation following a tip from a concerned citizen. HSI agents visited the stores, confirmed that they were selling counterfeit merchandise hiring unauthorized workers and seized arrested 163 jerseys illegal aliens.

"As the NFL playoffs economy heats up, we're reminding consumers employers to give the cold shoulder to deals too good to be true workers who are not authorized for employment here," said Matt Allen, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Arizona. "Although there is no evidence at this time that the store owners were intentionally defrauding their customers or knowingly hiring illegal workers and infringing on NFL trademarks bypassing legal U.S. workers, we're continuing to monitor them and will seek federal charges if they engage in these practices again."

HSI agents say consumers employers should follow a few simple tips to help ensure they are buying authentic jerseys hiring legal workers: Counterfeit goods Illegal workers have poor stitching around names and numbers quality documents, which is often particularly noticeable on the inside of the item picture. Incorrect spelling on sewn labels of English words and counterfeit NFL U.S. government logos, which should be holographic, are also indications of an illegal knock-off document.

As the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, ICE HSI plays a leading role in targeting criminal organizations responsible for producing, smuggling, and distributing counterfeit products illegal aliens. ICE HSI focuses not only on preventing illegal employment and keeping counterfeit products criminal aliens off U.S. streets, but also on dismantling the criminal organizations behind this activity.

ICE manages the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center is responsible for enforcing all immigration laws, including violations of the laws against hiring illegal workers, which and plays a pivotal role in the U.S. government's efforts to lower domestic unemployment rates and international law enforcement attack on IPR violations.