Watch Online

Watch Online
LIVE: newscasts on the Web

°

Homepage / Jacksonville News
Text Size

100 Illegals Working On New Courthouse

City Review Of Employment Records Found Undocumented Workers

POSTED: Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Just because the long-delayed new Duval County Courthouse is finally under construction doesn't mean all the controversy is behind the project.

One of the selling points to build the new $350 million courthouse was to create jobs for the city, but it was expected those jobs would be American workers -- not illegal immigrants.

So city workers said they were shocked when they learned Monday that out of 350 construction workers hired at the courthouse, 100 of them had falsified green cards.

That does not sit well with Kelly McMullen.

"I've been looking for a job since March, February of this year and I can't get any work anywhere," McMullen said.

Hiring undocumented workers could be a major problem for the contractors building the courthouse.

"Our primary concern is to make sure everyone who is working is doing so legally, so we have asked the General Council's Office to examine all of the facts involved, all of the laws involved and any contract provision to determine how best we should move forward," said Misty Skipper, spokeswoman for Mayor John Peyton.

The city has sent a letter to the general contractor, Turner Construction, saying, "knowingly hiring illegal workers could include contract termination." The city says the work badges of all the 100 illegal workers must be revoked, and failure to do so would be a breach of contract.

Federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials have been watching the construction site and have picked up 19 illegal workers near the courthouse since September.

The U.S. Border patrol told Channel 4's Jim Piggott that they are not legally allowed on the construction site, so the city has required the contractor to keep extensive records of employees, including green cards of anyone not a citizen of the United States. A review of those records on Monday revealed that scores of immigrant workers did not have proper documentation.

The city said they will be watching even closer in the future.

"Our concern is that there are people working on a city job site ... not doing so legally," Skipper said.

The views expressed are not those of News4Jax.com, WJXT or its affiliated companies. This is a community moderated forum. (Please note the 'Like' and 'Report' tabs.) By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms of Use.

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus

Sponsored Links

Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

Before you splurge on that pricey remodeling project, beware. It may not pay you back when it's time to sell. More

If you're looking to save on your next new vehicle, a low sticker price is just one aspect. Consider all the costs and make the right decision. More

Try these simple and fun ways to break out of your routine and find a more positive, confident you. More

Most Popular

  • StoriesClick to Expand

  • VideoClick to Expand

    • Uncut: Palin Talks To Crowd In Orange Park

      Sarah Palin gets off bus in Orange ParkFormer Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's brief remarks to the crowd gathered outside the Books-A-Million at Orange Park Mall, where the outspoken former vice-presidential candidate signed copies of her book.

    • Celebrity Chef Hit With Ham

      While handing out Thanksgiving food donations in Atlanta, celebrity chef Paula Deen was accidentally hit in the face with a ham.

    • Police: Teen Beaten With Baseball Bat

      William FoleyA 17-year-old is fighting for his life tonight after police say he was brutally beaten with a baseball bat.

    • Waycross Boy Shot With Pellet Gun, Dies

      Michael Maxwell Jr.Ware County's sheriff says Friday night's shooting of an 11-year-old boy with a pellet rifle by a football teammate remains under investigation.

    • Police: Woman Offers Sex For No Ticket

      Dashcam Of Officer Giving Woman TicketInvestigators say a Bradford County woman who got pulled over for speeding tried to work her way out a trade by offering sex to the officer that pulled her over.

  • SlideshowsClick to Expand