Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff has announced a new focus on corporate and worksite enforcement as part of a crackdown on the violation of the federal immigration laws. Secretary Chertoff noted that the government will "use all the tools we have, whether it be criminal enforcement or immigration laws to break the back" of businesses that hire undocumented workers. In DHS’ first effort under the initiative, federal agents conducted a nationwide raid of the facilities of a pallet and container manufacturer, arresting more than 1,000 employees in over 40 locations. In connection with the raids, the government filed criminal felony charges against seven current and former managers of the company, including charges of illegal hiring and harboring,money laundering, and wire fraud. The head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement explained that her agency is "now focusing on criminal cases and bringing as many criminal charges as we can" against companies that
