More about Sen. Gordon Smith's (R-OR) employment of illegal workers

http://wweek.com/editorial/3445/11539/

WALLA WALLA, Wash.—U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) reacted quickly last week when WW quoted multiple sources inside and outside Smith’s vegetable-packing plant in Eastern Oregon saying his company has long hired illegal immigrants.

The senator called the cover story, “Señor Smith” (WW, Sept. 10, 2008), completely “false.”

. . .

“It’s very important that people who come here to work obey the law, and that they learn English, and that they be here legally to work, and there’s a process for providing for that, that is consistent with civil rights in this country,” Smith told KGW. “That’s what we do.… Everyone that works at our plant has a Social Security number. Now, there’s a process to find out whether those are accurate. That’s the process that we follow.”

WW returned to Eastern Oregon and Washington last week and found five workers who are—or were—undocumented when they worked for Smith Frozen Foods or a second related business owned by Smith, who’s running for re-election against Democrat Jeff Merkley in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.

. . . more at link above