David C. Richardson, the owner of Rhode Island Refrigeration in Providence, Rhode Island, overheard two customers speaking Spanish to each other, so he asked them to produce proof of citizenship. According to them, he then threatened to call Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and make a citizen’s arrest, although Richardson denies he picked up the phone, but not that he made the threats. In fact, he says he’s done this “fifteen or twenty times” in the past and refuses to do business with those who won’t show their Social Security cards.
According to the article, Richardson is likely in violation of a state law that prohibits unfair sales practices, as well as state laws “prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race or national origin in places of public accommodation.” Even the group that Richardson claims membership in—Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement (RIILE)—is trying to distance itself from Richardson:
“There’s no way I can defend what he did. It definitely isn’t the policy of RIILE to go around and use your RIILE card to intimidate people,” said Gorman in a phone interview. “That’s not something that RIILE would promote … to make citizen’s arrest.”
When asked what proof he had to suspect their status, he replied, “What proof is there? I think the majority of people who don’t speak English in Rhode Island — at least 51 percent or more — are illegal aliens.” Both customers are Dominican natives with U.S. citizenship.
Genao said he is still upset over the encounter, which he called “loud in tone.” Richardson called it “a discussion.”“I told [Richardson] I’m a U.S. citizen by choice, whereas he was just born here,” said Genao. “I have every right to be here. I told him his behavior was shameful. And he went on to say that a lot of these illegal immigrants are criminals and we have to stop them, and he said he did this for his country — because it’s going downhill, because of all these illegal immigrants.
“What [Richardson] should have done was say, ‘Thank you for shopping with me.’ That’s all he had to do.”
(Thanks to ElizabethD!)
“Store owner asks to see shoppers’ Social Security cards” [The Providence Journal]
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Who the hell carries SSC card everyday anyway.
Only Indians are native Americans. All of us are immigrants. I agree that illegal immigrants have caused some problem, however please respect the legal immigrants who follow the rules AND work as hard (if not harder) to make U.S. a better country.
I think speaking another language can be rude, but only if you are blatantly acting like you are talking about people and mocking them.
As for finding illegals, I think that if you find an employer that not only hired illegals, but knew they were illegals and used that against them knowing they couldn’t report the employer, that the employer should be deported as well. (too bad that can’t happen!)
Personally, I think a business owner does, to some extent, possess the ability to determine the terms on which they do business. Provided competing services are provided by other companies, I don’t see any implied demand that a business owner MUST provide services to a particular party. Offended consumers can just go elsewhere. Mind you, I think any business owner who is going to refuse customers for any reason is an idiot, but the right to do so should still be available.
Consider this same principle in the current mortgage crisis. Don’t banks do this very same thing? Don’t they force customers to provide a whole host of information, the least of which is proof of citizenship, before they will do business with them? And isn’t the whole reason the crisis exists that banks and lenders have been forced to relax this whole process and make loans available to people they would otherwise gladly send packing?
@ ihateauditions
Brilliant. My wife lived in Chile for two years and often caught American tourists trying this same trick (speaking english to avoid eavesdroppers). Nevermind that just about everyone there spoke English as a second language. Personally, I’ve always assumed that was the reason I’ve caught others doing that in public; they just want a private conversation, and the understand that most of us in this country are too lazy to learn a second language.
@amoeba: The SSN *is* proof of right-to-work in the U.S., which definitionally means you’re here legally (assuming the card is yours and obtained properly), although there are ways to be here legally that DON’T entitle one to a SSN. (And there are still native-born US citizens w/o SSNs, although they sorta frown on that.)
This community has gotten really bad. We all applaud freedom but dont want others to freely choose to speak in a different language. You are the worst kinds of people. You are the ones who slowly strangle democracy slowly. There is NO REASON OTHER THEN RACISM to be biased against someone because of their language.
(legal documents should be universally in one language as to not cause scrutiny)
@noasalira: You see how we’re talking about immigration here? That’s what I was referring to. If you think Africans stopped coming to the US when we stopped kidnapping and enslaving them, you would be wrong. Many cities around the United States have thriving communities of African immigrants, who like the immigrants from China, Mexico, Ireland, and Germany before are seeking a better life for themselves and their families. African immigrants today are often treated to the same cultural hostilities of previous anti-immigration campaigns. In 2002, the mayor of Lewiston, Maine “asked” Somali immigrants to stop moving there. You’re one-dimensional assumption about the African-American experience ignores the true diversity of backgrounds.
(401)421-8422
That is the number to the store, I got it from [goliath.ecnext.com]
Please call for any heating or cooling needs.
After reading most of the comments, I am happy to see that not all white Americans are obsessed in discriminating against hispanics/latins. I was born an American citizen and ever since the issue of illegal immigration has surfaced I have been told many more racist remarks. My parents both came to the United States legally. They came because Mexico’s government sucks. That is a fact. I agree that Illegal Mexicans do bring some of the wages down. I also agree that it is unfair that they illegally take advantage of Americans welfare programs. I am not ashamed of being Mexican. In fact, I am proud to be Mexican. A lot of Mexican nationals say I am against them. I probably am. First of all, if you are 2nd or 3rd generation Mexican American, and you are still working in the same job your grandfather did when he came to the states, then you bring shame to your grandparents who came here for a better life for “YOU”!!!! Education is not free in Mexico. It is in the United States. Take advantage of it. Learning English as a second language or a first language does not make you less Mexican. Mexican is something you just are. Because I received a bachelor’s in business and work for a good company does not make me less Mexican. Because I speak English most of the time does not make me less Mexican. I hate it when Mexicans say that they are hard workers when it comes to picking fields. Is that all Mexicans are good for? Speaking to all Mexicans: Please educate your son/daughter to be ten times greater than yourself. Continuous Improvement should be our way of life. This store owner is an idiot. Obviously, throughout his generation, no one taught him what being a real American is all about. My brother in law is a border patrol agent and some Mexicans talk about him too. I will say this to all Mexicans who oppose the wall. Go vote against it. Gathering a large group against it will not stop it. Enough votes can! This said I can unfortunately say most of you will not. I am voted against it twice. I believe that it is a waste of tax payer’s money. We are better off hiring more border patrol agents. I believe that in many decades to come (unfortunately we can’t agree to come together) we will unite against the Mexican government to break up all monopolies and allow free and open commercialization like the states. To educate their people for free. It is in the country’s best interest. It should not be only for the people who can afford it. The Mexico’s president should be ashamed that his people want to leave his country. I will let you in a little secret. He does not care that the poor leave his country. He encourages it. He criticizes the president of the United States on illegal immigration. Fox and Calderon should take a long look at themselves. They discriminate Mexicans much worse than the U.S. I would love to go back to Mexico. However, I get scared whenever their police pulls me over. They always shake me down and make verbal threats on my safety. It is a beautiful country, that is run by drug cartels. If I go out there are a bunch of idiots drunk and behaving violently and surprisingly they are connected to police officials or drug cartels. Anyway I’ll end here because I can go on and on.
My gosh I’m glad that guy doesn’t live down here in Texas…he’d be having a field day…
What I think is funny is that when he asked the people to show him their SS cards he probly said it like this: “I…NEED….TO…SEE…YOUR…SOCIAL….SECURITY…CARDS…” I love it when people talk to people of other races all slow and loud as if theyre total morons.
@Dbone1025:
But when there are so many here illegally you can’t blame a guy for trying…
Yes you can. There is no grey area in this story. It’s absolute, blatant racism. Based on his alleged comments while trying to explain himself, I’d put one month’s pay on a bet that he says nothing to white folks speaking French.
@greensmurf:
You wrote:
If you can’t see the error in your ways, I really feel sorry for you.
@moviemoron: Feel sorry for yourself, you are the one that will not back up your arguments (that have no bearing on the subject matter) with an answer so tell me this:
How exactly am I supposed to tell if a potential customer is a rapist, a child molester or a terrorist?
Also go look up Equal Opportunity here is a link: [en.wikipedia.org]
Yes i’m pretty sure you are (well you used to be anyways) required to know english to become an american citizen. Who knows nowadays seems everything is in spanish….why aren’t things printed in all the second languages of all of our people? why did they only pick spanish to print everything in? hmmmmm I wonder why. It may be a bit harsh and I’m not sure I totally agree with it, but desperate times call for desperate measures, the government could care less, nothing is enforced in regards to illegal immigration, so it is now in the hands of the people. Just like it was in the hands of the rebels when they started this whole thing. Oh and the whole stealing from the native americans argument doesn’t really go too far seeing as how the native americans stole from the original immigrants who came over the ice shelf and down through alaska and many others before them.
@Rectilinear Propagation: You should treat your Social Security number as confidential information and avoid giving it out unnecessarily. You should keep your Social Security card in a safe place with your other important papers. Do not carry it with you unless you need to show it to an employer or service provider.
We do several things to protect your number from misuse. For example, we require and carefully inspect proof of identity from people who apply to replace lost or stolen Social Security cards, or for corrected cards. One reason we do this is to prevent people from fraudulently obtaining Social Security numbers to establish false identities. We maintain the privacy of Social Security records unless:
The law requires us to disclose information to another government agency; or
Your information is needed to conduct Social Security or other government health or welfare program business.
You should be very careful about sharing your number and card to protect against misuse of your number. Giving your number is voluntary even when you are asked for the number directly. If requested, you should ask:
Why your number is needed;
How your number will be used;
What happens if you refuse; and
What law requires you to give your number.
The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give your Social Security number. The decision is yours
Bottom line the store owner had no right to aske for the social security card.
I was born in a hispanic country and came to the United States when I was two years old. Yes, I am legally here.
I speak, read and write English better than many people who were born and raised here. I have a good job and work very hard. If anyone asked me for my social security number I would not give it to them. This man’s actions were motivated by both his ignorance and racial profiling.
With that said, I do believe that anyone who lives in the United States should learn the English language. It is to the person’s benefit. If someone chooses not to that doesn’t mean that they should have to fear using their native language or be treated with disrespect. I often speak Spanish with family and friends when we are out that does not make any of us illegal.
The store owner used bad judgement and I feel is racist. Why would anyone give a stranger their personal information? The following Web site [www.ssa.gov] states:
You should treat your Social Security number as confidential information and avoid giving it out unnecessarily. You should keep your Social Security card in a safe place with your other important papers. Do not carry it with you unless you need to show it to an employer or service provider.
We do several things to protect your number from misuse. For example, we require and carefully inspect proof of identity from people who apply to replace lost or stolen Social Security cards, or for corrected cards. One reason we do this is to prevent people from fraudulently obtaining Social Security numbers to establish false identities. We maintain the privacy of Social Security records unless:
The law requires us to disclose information to another government agency; or your information is needed to conduct Social Security or other government health or welfare program business.
You should be very careful about sharing your number and card to protect against misuse of your number. Giving your number is voluntary even when you are asked for the number directly.
If requested, you should ask:
Why your number is needed;
How your number will be used;
What happens if you refuse; and
What law requires you to give your number.
The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give your Social Security number. The decision is yours.
Bottom line the store owner had no right to ask for anyone’s social security card!
Wow, I hope that is not representative of Rhode Island. That is some audacity. God I hate stupid, hateful people–regardless of race.
America does not actually have an official language, contrary to what some may think. And I wasn’t aware speaking Spanish made you an illegal immigrant.
@MickeyMoo: Here, here. I couldn’t agree more.
REDNECKS MUST DIE.
@mac-phisto: It’s gonna be tough to deport 200 or so million people.
Well, the comments seem to be well-divided into two camps: “This is discrimination, regardless of the idea behind it”, and “If you don’t speak Uhmurrican, get out”.
This is a tired argument. As a store owner, the gentleman had the right to refuse service for almost *any* reason, as is their wont, EXCEPT for reasons that can be defined as discrimination.
If the guy doesn’t want to man up and learn some Spanish in order to do business in an increasingly multi-cultural and multi-language economy, then he should deal exclusively online, or simply close. Pushing people away from your business has a curious effect; your patrons go elsewhere, your competitors excel, and your business goes under.
To those who bitch about how other countries don’t make concessions to English speakers, I call bullshit. Most kids in Europe and Asia learn multiple languages in primary school, including English. This is required in the curriculum. We should be setting an example as a country that we are accepting to ANYONE, so long as they can contribute.
Don’t even trot out the “b-b-b-but they don’t pay TAXES!” line, either. If their employer has any sense, they are paying the taxes for their “unregistered” employees’ income as a reduction in those employees’ checks. If said employees are being paid tax-free, then the company that hired them is just as criminal by dodging the taxes they need to pay on the income that the company produces.
What I’m getting at is this: Whine about illegals all you want, but remember that your convenience (McDonalds, quickly-built tract housing, day labor, etc) RUNS on the efforts and sweat of people who sometimes are not US citizens. If you want them gone, then now would be a fine time to teach Junior to do something more important than fiddle-fuck around on Myspace on the phone you bought for them, such as, say, GET A FRICKING JOB.
Our obsession with convenience has brought us to this. We have successfully taught our little snowflakes that we deserve all the nice things we have, and we don’t need to do anything to get them. Our kids don’t want to work, because they don’t want their feelings hurt by the big, bad world. So who does all the jobs that sixteen-year-old Junior would have done in the past (fast food, landscaping, house painting, construction labor) are now being filled by people that are willing to do the job. You got what you wanted. Congratulations.
To tell you the truth though, I like, trust, and above all, RESPECT the people behind the counter at my local McDs a hell of a lot more than the spoiled, entitled crotchfruit that attend the university near where I live. I know which one will have the job done if I walk away and come back, nine times out of ten. That’s all I have to say.
@darkened: You sound like you have truck balls.
@darkened: “American”, que es lenguaje “american”. Es ingles, y tu eres un idiota por no muchas razones.
Oh wait probably don’t know how to speak another language, let me translate for you: “American”, what is “American”. It’s English, and for many reasons, you’re an idiot.