The seamy side of immigration often gets glossed over, dismissed, or explained away by open-border apologists calling for unfettered legal immigration and unchecked illegal immigration. But an honest look at immigration shows that human sin nature doesn't stop at the border.
The Washington Post reports that a pair of Korean immigrant women is headed to prison for trafficking in illegal South Korean females. The illegal aliens worked at the jail-bound madames' bar, which profited the madames several million dollars. According to the Post, the "hostesses" served, drank with, flirted, sang, and danced with customers, who were required to buy an expensive bottle of liquor. The women "dress[ed] provocatively."
Immigration fraud and related crimes played a central role in this enterprise:
In their plea agreement, the two admitted that dozens of female employees were illegal aliens from South Korea. The servers were paid about $50 a night. Since 2007, the defendants said the salon earned over $4 million.
Surh and Kim pleaded guilty in December. They were charged with conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens and to inducing illegal aliens to reside in the U.S. for commercial advantage and private financial gain. Kim also pled guilty to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud for her own fraudulent marriage to a U.S. citizen.
A couple of observations:
Immigrants are supposed to be of "good moral character." Officials need to do a much better job ascertaining the character of prospective immigrants. They should more diligently scrutinize both immigrant sponsors and visa petitioners.
Immigrant job creation is one thing (desirable, if overrated as a practical matter; see here and here). Creating seamy "jobs" of questionable legality or positions intended as nothing more than excuses to bring exploitable foreign workers to the United States defeat the purpose of immigration serving the national interest.