starbulletin.com | Editorial | /2006/08/05/: "Until recently the government would impose civil fines on employers with illegal aliens on their payroll. The employers considered it merely as one of the costs of doing business, and immigration authorities gave workplace raids low priority. Civil fine notices declined from 417 to three in 2003.
In April, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced a new campaign to focus on bringing felony charges leading to large financial penalties and seizing of assets of companies hiring illegals. It began with the arrest of officials of Dutch-based IFCO Systems North America, a pallet supply company, and detaining of 1,187 immigrants at its plants in 26 states."