Store Owner Demands Spanish-Speaking Customers Show Social Security Cards
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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Comments:
What a freakin TOOL - I hope the news media doesn't pick this up or his store will get lots of free publicity. I do hope that if there are any rational people in his town they stop shopping at his business and he goes bankrupt.
I don't see how this is "discrimination". The guy, as a business owner, has the right to decide if he does or does not want to do business with criminals. And if you are here in violation of our immigration laws, then you are by definition a criminal.
Personally, I have no issue with passing a law that makes it a crime to do business with someone here illegally.
Renting to an illegal immigrant is aiding them, and I do believe there is a law against "aiding and abetting", isn't there?
I have mixed feeling about this.
Can't any good news come out of my home state?
And for the future posters (detractors) of this guy, have you been recently to the Providence-Johnston-Pawtucket-Woonsocket area recently?
Setting aside how ridiculous and discriminatory this guy's little crusade is, how many people actually carry their Social Security cards around?
I used to work with a woman who pulled similar stunts, but not out of a sense of outrage - she just thought that it was her responsibility to ask. I had another person ask me, "How can this person have medical insurance through the state? She's.....Hispanic!"
wow. this should really get national press and this guy should be fired immediately. what a jackass. i hate to break it to him, but there are plenty of non-american citizens who might actually speak perfect english... this is not the best way to go about weeding out illegals.
also - i wonder if he's also against the fact that most of the refrigerators he sells are probably made overseas by 17 year olds who have kidney damage because they've been inhaling toxic fumes since they were 9? something tells me he doesn't care too much about that angle.
again, what a jackass.
Yeah, because no one EVER counterfeited a Social Security card!!!!
Ridiculous. There are millions of Spanish speaking Americans.
And like DrGirlfriend said, who really carries around their social security cards. I always felt it was stupid/dangerous to walk around with my SS card.
The Consumerist is slowly turning into Digg in terms of having the most hypocritical commenters around.
Just a couple of days ago, the majority was claiming that a public store has the right to refuse a sale (in reference to an AT&T store that accused the customer of wanting to unlock an iPhone which he wanted to activate at home.)
Plus, if this guy is willing to do a job which is on our books and the federal government has thus far been stumbling and failing to do (the latest immigration snafu in the last year or so isn't the first time we've tried giving illegals amnesty), than more power to him. Discrimination laws don't protect people that have already broken the law.
I think "store owner" is the keyword here.
Even if valid, a Social Security card isn't proof of citizenship. So this guy isn't just an asshat, he's a moron to boot.
When you assume, you make an ASS out of...well, yourself, basically.
Remarkably successful, you know . . . how the corporate masters get us all angry and het up at each other (white vs. black, immigrant vs. citizen, gay vs. straight, etc.) so we consistently fail to focus on those who are actually looting the country for their own benefit.
I care a lot less whether my Croatian neighbor working as a custodian at the medical school is legal than I do about the All American President of Gargantuan Health Insurance, Inc.'s $500 million dollar parachute . . .
just sayin' . . . but yeah, I'm a hippie commie faggot, so don't bother yelling at me. I'be heard it all before.
@DrGirlfriend: I sure don't carry mine around. I thought it was recommended that you keep your SS card somewhere safe until it's needed, such as when beginning employment someplace?
This guy is a dong. Heaven forbid people should speak another language at times.
I'm a swarthy fellow and should go into his shop and speak Spanish. When he detains me for ICE I'll turn around and sue him for false imprisonment and kidnapping. Some empowered Americans have taken it upon themselves to learn more than their native tongue.
@Hawk07: Discrimination laws don't protect people that have already broken the law.
You are a very scary person.
Never mind that -
a. The US has no official language.
b. You do not NEED a social security card as a US citizen, although most US citizens have one.
c. The people could be non-US citizens, but living in the country legally and have no social security card.
@darkened: considering American is not a language, should we be attempting to speak the many languages of Native Americans? I'm simply confused. Oh silly me.
Wow, I'm like flying to Rhode Island, going to his store and speaking Spanish on purpose. (I'm guessing he won't recognize it as craptastic high school Spanish.) Does he ask fair-skinned redheads speaking foreign tongues for THEIR social security cards? (Or would I have to travel back in time to turn him into a "No Irish Need Apply" racist too?) And WHAT THE HELL IS THIS MAN DOING TO OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY? We need all the tourist dollars we can get in this economy!
"I told [Richardson] I'm a U.S. citizen by choice, whereas he was just born here," said Genao.
Good. For. Genao. I'm friggin' delighted he chose the U.S. We could use more folks like him who understand what America stands for, as obviously this store owner MISSED THE MEMO in 1776.
"I'm a U.S. citizen by choice, whereas he was just born here."
Brilliant!
I'm sorry, some schmuck at a restaurant is not going to look at my social security card and my number.
I'm not even sure I know where my social security card is - somewhere in a safe in North Tonawanda, I'm guessing. If I had to provide it to make purchases, I'd be totally screwed.
@darkened: I'm assuming you're a troll, if not we don't speak American, we speak English. At least get it right.
what happened to "BRING MY YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES" this is not america anymore.
"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset hates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lighting, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
So let me get this straight: Consumerist commenters see no reason why you should have to show your receipt to a Walmart employee to verify that you are not stealing, but you should have to show your Social Security card to a store owner to verify your citizenship so you can shop in his store?
And how does this not qualify as discrimination - there are plenty of people in the United States illegally who are not Spanish speaking, especially in the Northeast.
@Hawk07: ah, i missed that. well... then i hope all of the 'illegal immigrants' (read: brown people who speak another language, citizens or not) and other folks in his area who are offended by this, get together and boycott the place.
i'm not a discrimination expert, but isn't there some kind of legal action that can be taken against this guy?
i have 3 words for mr. richardson:
chinga tu madre
I'm a legal America citizen who was born and raised here, but I don't carry around my SS card with me everywhere I go...I'm too paranoid about getting my wallet stolen to do that. Memorization FTW!
@darkened:
Douche of the day award to you! It's called "English" you illiterate. At least "they" have an excuse for not speaking the language properly, what's yours?
@darkened: There no such country as America (it's a CONTINENT with a LOT of countries on it, Duh!), there is a country named USA.
Also, there is English, no American either.
And by the way, all "Americans'' are immigrants. If it's not you, it's your grandparents or your grand-grandparents. And colonists were technically illegal immigrants which took over native lands.
So if you want to act like a bad lawyer, take all facts first, then troll around.
@bonzombiekitty: while i am quite sure that the US does have an official language (am open to be proven wrong here), i agree with you otherwise. most of my dad's brothers and sisters are not US citizens but have lived here legally since they moved here. funny thing. the store owner would never know it. they're british.
i don't carry my ssn or any proof of citizenship on me. should my purse get stolen, i don't want my identity stolen.
if i was not raised speaking english and had to learn another language, i would still feel more comfortable talking to my family in native tongue.
Jackass.
I hope there is some sort of publicity, so this asshole goes out of business. Does he have a sign posted, warning people that they have to prove citizenship before they can purchase items? Otherwise, it's discrimination, and illegal.
I wish Genao sued his dumb, self-righteous ass.
When stories like this hit the press, I know if I buy a refrigerator from this guy, chances are he stands behind the product.
It sure as hell beats having to read all these Conesumerist stories about "________ (Sears/Best Buy/etc.) fails to fix refrigerator after _____ months/years!!!!!"
I don't know where any of y'all purchase your appliances, because obviously the big chain retailers fail miserably, and the small time guys are just racist.
@NcSchu: You're NOT SUPPOSED to show your social security number to anyone, besides banks and your employer.
Even for credit checks, you should (for your own security), use your DOB only.
Identity theft hurts a lot, when the thief has you Social #.
I wish CNN would get rid of lou dobbs and his dubious crusade again illegal immigration. His rhetoric really rallies the stupid together and helps draw attention away from our real problems, like the falling dollar and our crazy president.
@Dervish: I don't carry mine around with me either. I guess I just wasn't expecting to have to pass through 15 security/identity checkpoints when going about my daily routine.
This guys a douche, much like the hyper patriotic, xenophobic Minutemen morons who seems to blame everything on immigrants; illegal or seemingly not illegal.
@darkened: An A+ in douchebaggery, an F for sensitivity or ration thought.
@xay: I think you sorta answered your own question. The biggest issue is that it's discrimination -- being able to speak another language does not imply a person is in the country illegally.
Also, whether or not a customer is in the country illegally doesn't really directly effect the given business. When it comes to receipts, that's an attempt to reduce shoplifting and you can make the argument that's it's a reasonable measure to take.
However, it is not the duty of a store owner or employee to try and enforce immigration laws on their own.
When your own weird, single-issue interest group (left or right) disavows you, that's a sign you're seriously up the creek with a paddle.
Read the bottom of the Social Security Card ... "Not for identification"
can we keep the foreigners & just deport all the stupid assholes?
Somebody please tell me how:
A) This guy is clearly being discriminatory for asking to see a SSN card (the general drift of the comments here)
and,
B) an AT&T CSR wasn't being discriminatory when they accused a guy that he was going to take his iPhone home and unlock it and hence refused the sale without providing a valid SSN to register him when it's been policy since day 1 that you can activate your phone online? (the drift of the comments in the other story)
Anyone care to jump on this one?
No one should ever give out their social unless legally required. I sympathize as I'm in an industry (Construction)that is overrun with illegals who drove down the wages and recompense of us legals, but that was wrong.
@darkened: Many American languages. English isn't original.
@DrGirlfriend: I do, but its in my organizer.
@yesteryear: No such thing as a non-American citizen. Once a citizen then an American.
@punkrawka: Have to agree, lot of identity theft going on. Another reason to never disclose the number....
@pigeonpenelope: No, the US has no official language. Just a language most of us happen to speak. There's been various proposals by Congress to make English the official language, I think there may even have been non-binding resolution that was approved, but there's nothing in the actual law that declares English as an official language. Although I think some states may have declared their own official languages (Hawaii has Hawaiian and English IIRC).
Ahhh, the Triumph of Stupidity (tm).
Heck, my wife isn't an American citizen but has a Social Security #.
This all goes back to what my mother always said "Why can't everyone get along?". Or the best one "If you can't say anything nice, don't say a word".
I think if you want to come to America to become a LEGAL citizen to contribute to society, pay taxes and be treated like all LEGAL Americans, there is proper way to do so.
@Hawk07: It is perfectly consistent to state that AT&T is within its rights to refuse to sell an iPhone, while this guy is not right to refuse to sell to people that he merely suspects are illegal immigrants.
AT&T refusing to sell the iPhone is merely stupid. A store owner refusing to serve customers based on national origin (or even suspected national origin) isn't just stupid, it is blatantly illegal. This isn't even a grey area.
There are many ways to be in this country legally for an extended period of time (and therefore need a fridge) and not have a SSN. Student, Spouse, international employee on extended assignment, etc.
In addition, there is absolutely no reason for anybody to carry around their SS card with them at all times. Mine stays in a fireproof box in my house; the only people that EVER need to see it are the DMV and a new employer when filling out the I-9. Anybody else that asks for it, especially some clown that wants to be a one-man ICE, can go $*&@ him (or her) self.
This is America, speak American. Big cheers to this store owner.