Illegal Immigrant Lived with Chavez, Possible Labor Secretary
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/chavez010107.html
Jan. 7 — FBI agents have questioned labor secretary-designate Linda Chavez
about an illegal immigrant who lived and may have worked in Chavez’ household.
ABCNEWS has learned the FBI has questioned both Chavez and a woman from
Guatemala who illegally resided in the Chavez household, in Bethesda, Md.,
for at least a year during the 1990s.
Through Bush spokesman Tucker Eskew, Chavez has acknowledged that the
woman did occasional jobs in the house — and that she occasionally gave the
woman “spending money.”
“She did odd jobs on an irregular basis,” Eskew told ABCNEWS.
In a separate interview with ABCNEWS today, the woman confirmed she
lived in Chavez’ house and did some chores, but did not accept money for the
work she did.
The woman, who now resides legally in the United States, says she told
Chavez at the time that she did not have legal immigration papers.
Since 1986, federal law has required an employer to verify a worker’s
employment status. But federal immigration regulations also exempt
housekeepers who provide “sporadic, irregular, and intermittent service.”
According to the woman, she and Chavez, who now lives in Virginia, also
spoke to each other last night.
‘Act of Compassion’
According to Eskew, Chavez has indicated she did not consider the woman to be
an employee, and did not regard the money given to the woman as compensation
for the jobs in question. Eskew also said Chavez’ deeds constituted an “act
of compassion.”
“She drove this woman around and helped her find employment, taught her
about the [Washington] metro, got her enrolled in classes, and gave her
spending money on no regular basis,”
Eskew says Chavez suspected the woman may have been in the country
illegally, but did not concern herself with the question because Chavez was
not employing the immigrant.
“Mrs. Chavez has two patterns in her life,” Eskew added. “She has a
life-long pattern of helping people in need. Separately, she also has
employed housekeepers and has always paid their taxes.”
But sources familiar with the case say the FBI is aware of information
that contradict Chavez’ version of events.
And according to officials with the Immigration and Naturalization
Service, it is against the law to give housing to a known illegal immigrant.
Reactions Follow Party Lines
Reactions to the news today largely followed party lines, with Republicans
initially voicing support for Chavez, who was selected by President-elect
George W. Bush to be his labor secretary.
“I know nothing about what just came up,” said Republican Sen. Don
Nickles of Oklahoma, appearing on ABCNEWS’ This Week. “But I do know Linda
Chavez, and I have great respect for her … I think she’ll do a great job and
I’m confident she’ll be confirmed.”
But Democratic Senate leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota said he thought
the arrangement “would present very serious problems” for Chavez.
“This is the labor secretary,” said Daschle, on CBS’ Face the Nation.
“The labor secretary ought to set the example, ought to be able to enforce
all of the laws. If she hasn’t been able to do that in the past, one would
have serious questions about whether she’d be able to do it in her capacity
as secretary of labor.”
And the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a former Democratic presidential candidate,
sharply criticized Chavez.
“Hiring this woman means essentially Chavez is against minimum wage,”
said Jackson, also appearing on This Week. “She’s for sub-minimum wage ”
When this came up on Mr. Clinton’s attorney general appointment eight years
ago [Zoe Baird] she was pushed aside, and so Linda Chavez must meet the same
standard.”
There have already been indications that Chavez, a former civil rights
administrator in the Reagan administration, could be in for a difficult
confirmation process on Capitol Hill.
Labor organizations and some Democrats have voiced objections to many of
Chavez’ views, including her written view that raising the minimum wage would
be “bad policy.” Chavez’ affiliation with a controversial group attempting
to make English the country’s official language has also brought about
criticism.
— ABCNEWS’ John Yang and Ariane DeVogue contributed to this report.
