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Delaware State Contractor Accused of Using Illegal Workers04-17-07 | News

Delaware State Contractor Accused of Using Illegal Workers




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Fresh Cut's contract with the state called for security checks for the employees working at Woodburn, the governor's mansion in Dover, the checks did not include immigration status because the Capitol Police reportedly lack the mechanism to do so.


A Delaware landscaping firm has gone bankrupt after receiving more than $280,000 for a state government contract because it knowingly hired illegal immigrants, even went to Mexico to get them, according to one of its bankruptcy opponents.

Some states are strictly enforcing the laws regarding government contractors employing illegal immigrants, however Delaware officials maintain that they have no way of knowing whether their contractors are obeying the laws.

Fresh Cut Lawn and Landscape Services a company that declared bankruptcy in May and is currently being liquidated, cut grass at 39 government facilities in two Delaware counties including the governor’s mansion. Creditors are currently fighting over the company’s assets while other companies are battling attempts by a court-appointed trustee to collect money owed to Fresh Cut.

According to the trustee, a resort development in Sussex County, the Peninsula at Long Neck, owes the company $268,000 for services. However, the Peninsula argues the trustee cannot enforce its contract because Fresh Cut used illegal workers thus performing the contract in an illegal manner.

“The information we gathered led us to believe that the principals of Fresh Cut went directly to Mexico – they did not go through a third party in this country – and hired people in Mexico,” Peninsula attorney James Sheeran said in an interview.

Sheeran also stated that he was not aware which officials traveled outside the county to seek the illegal labor.

The owners of Fresh Cut, brothers Christopher W. Glenn and Joseph Todd Glenn were unable to be reached and the attorney representing Fresh Cut in the case John McLaughlin, declined to comment.

Several states have passed laws within the past year targeting government contracts not employing illegal immigrants. In Georgia, a new law requires public employers and subcontractors to participate in a federal work authorization program for all new employees beginning July 1.

Recently, the governor of Missouri, Matt Blunt canceled a janitorial company’s state contract for employing illegal workers, before signing an executive order directing state agencies to review contractors to ensure they are hiring legal employees.

Government contractors in Delaware are supposed to comply with similar federal statues, as well as the state and local laws that apply.

Source: Associated Press, www.delwareonline.com

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