W. Va Governor Cracks Down On Undocumented Immigrants

WTOV9.com Friday, April 18, 2008  West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin Cracks Down on Illegal Aliens

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III told NEWS9 he will be tough on illegal immigrants who enter the Mountain State illegally.

 

That was after local law enforcement in New York alerted ICE and cracked down on restaurants housing illegal immigrants.

 

That same investigation brought Immigration officials to West Virginia. ICE officials served two restaurants with warrants as the owner of the restaurant and its managers are being accused of housing illegal immigrants.

 

The two restaurants are Nogales Restaurant in Wheeling, W. Va and El Coporal Restaurant in New Martinsville, W. Va.

 

West Virginia is part of a five-state investigation by ICE and with this issue hitting close to home, Manchin said he is already on top of the issue.

 

"Last year we put an extra five inspectors in our division on labor and we are on top of that. They are pretty mobile, pretty fluid and move pretty quick," he said.

 

According to the governor, if any business is caught housing undocumented workers, they will face stiff penalties and fines.