Eric Schultz11h ago
Denny Vrandečić

The banality of evil: in Cambridge, Maryland, a woman had construction workers work on her roof for several days, and then called ICE on them to get them detained, and avoid paying $10,000 for the work.

https://www.newsweek.com/homeowner-called-ice-on-migrants-she-hired-worker-says-11742032

Homeowner Called ICE on Migrants She Hired, Worker Says

A video shared online showed agents arriving at the home in Cambridge, Maryland as workers wrapped up construction.

Newsweek
Mar 27 at 8:12amWeb
Show threadFandaSin22h ago

@vrandecic

I hope, there's special place in hell for people like this.🤬

Show threadKid Mania20h ago
@FandaSin @vrandecic
Stadium chant:
"USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! etc."
Show threadMcWabbit 🇺🇦🍋🌻🍉16h ago
@FandaSin
I honestly do not want to wait that long to want to see them get their due. But yeah, to hell with them.
@vrandecic
Show threadTanek Rune21h ago
@vrandecic
When I read Arendt's book, I didn't get the same takeaway that greed was banal. What this woman did was take advantage solely to not have to pay her bill. Maliciously.
Show threadDenny Vrandečić20h ago
@Cassandra_Complex you're right, I didn't capture Arendt's idea
Show threadTanek Rune20h ago
@vrandecic
Ah well, you still generated a discussion, which is important too.
Show threadMATAK7921h ago
@vrandecic that company needs to come and tear that new roof off
Show threadBarry Rowlingson20h ago
@MATAK79 @vrandecic Yup, if the workers were "illegal" then the work can't possibly be to code, off it comes. That'll be $4000 demolition cost thanks.
Show threadnackmack21h ago
@vrandecic we should help her return her fucking roof. What an incredibly disturbing decision she made
Show threadCassandrich21h ago
@circuitsunfish @vrandecic Came here to say exactly this. Someone should climb up there and rip it all off.
Show threadzed21h ago

@vrandecic @lisamelton the language used here is doing alot of work to try and make the reader not like the construction workers:

"During the encounter, the aliens refused to comply with lawful orders, taunted officers and attempted to flee.”

Show threadJulie Hughes21h ago
@vrandecic I've read several accounts and still can't tell whether it was a targeted inforcement action, or whether the woman called #ICE to avoid paying. If the latter, she's committed a felony and I hope they charge her.
Show threadDenny Vrandečić20h ago
@juliehuz I was basing it off the linked articles, where it was ascribed to be her motivation
Show threadJulie Hughes17h ago
@vrandecic In the AP and Newsweek pieces, ICE disputes the claim they were responding to a call - saying it was a "targeted enforcement action" (whatever that means). It seems likely they would lie to protect her even if she did make the call. Its raining all over Maryland today - sure would be a shame if her half-finished roof leaked. #Karma
Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK17h ago

@juliehuz @vrandecic

what I don't understand, is she hasn't really gained anything from this - her roof (which I could see was clearly in bad state and I'm not even a roofer) is indeed half done - its not as if the feds will let the migrant workers finish the roof before they nick them!

She apparently also acknowledged that but threatened that if "more immigrants" turned up to finish the job she would call ICE on them too.

I suspect its motivated as much out of bigotry than merely not wanting to pay the workers.

Show threadJulie Hughes17h ago
@vfrmedia @vrandecic that's the part that makes me doubt the headline. You would have to be ridiculously stupid to call ICE before the roof is whole...but if so...Enjoy the rain all day and all night tonight when it will dip down into the low 30s. #Karma
Show threadrubbel20h ago
@vrandecic If she doesn't pay they should still be able to sue her for breach of contract.
Show threadBecca20h ago

@rubbel sue? from a death camp?

i have bad news for you about how things work here, and lest you say, "but the company..." lemme stop you right there

the workers are considered disposable in the US

@vrandecic

Show threadMisuse Case12h ago
@rubbel @vrandecic No, that’s the point of hiring undocumented people. They can’t advocate for their rights (including their rightful pay) because they’ll get deported if they try.
Show threadkillick20h ago

@vrandecic

Christ, what an asshole!

Show threadSneezy20h ago

@vrandecic

this reminds me of the US regime using the cover of negotiations to execute illegal military attacks

is it the same culture of dehumanising others as undeserving of human rights, international law, and basic dignity

Show threadBecca20h ago
@vrandecic this woman doesnt deserve to have any roof but a prison over her head
Show threadTheriac19h ago

@vrandecic

- the video was originally a 30 minute stream on X
It's not clear if the intent of the video was to appeal to the average X user or not.

- the home owner could face prosecution, from the article:

The woman was reported to owe the workers $10,000 for a three-day job, according to Univision, a local TV network. If that is proved to be true, she could potentially face charges under Maryland law, which includes a clause on a person not being able to obtain labor from another person if their consent is induced with the threat or wrongful use of notifying law enforcement of the worker's undocumented or illegal immigration status. This also applies to withholding wages.Not sure who would initiate this, but if it's criminal law then the home owner can be arrested

Show threadKnightmare19h ago
@vrandecic how MAGA of her.
Show threadSnippety Snap (she/her)18h ago

@vrandecic
"Woman" has a name.

Name her and shame her.

Show threadDenny Vrandečić18h ago
@shansterable I didn't see it in the article when I was reading it
Show threadSnippety Snap (she/her)15h ago
@vrandecic
Sorry. That wasn't meant to be directed at you. I scanned the article and couldn't find it either. I was peeved that the article didn't name her.
Show threadChristo. London, England18h ago
@vrandecic
Evil woman
Show threadRoy -- the dull one18h ago

@vrandecic

MAGA is always learning from their President's example.

Show threadSilk_Flame (she/her) 😷17h ago
@vrandecic reprehensible!
Show threadBianca17h ago
@vrandecic 😞🤬💔
Show threadMartin Gleadow16h ago
@vrandecic slave labour by another name
Show thread2xfo13h ago
@vrandecic
I can't take this source, they literally list the officer's complaints as fact
#acab
Show threadRicardo Harvin13h ago

@vrandecic Unboosted this because, unfortunately, Newsweek has gone from being bad, after decades of being solid, to clearly being nothing but fascist propaganda for the Brown Shirts, judging by this hateful article.

It's literally analogous to reading Nazi-approved "news" from the 1930's regarding the jailing of Jews.

Disgusting woman's heinous act covered by disgusting propagandist publication.

Show threadHugs4friends ♾🇺🇦 🇵🇸😷7h ago
@vrandecic I wish this was surprising, but it is not.😒
Show threadJenny7h ago
@vrandecic so christian, definitely what Jesus would have done
Show threadAlper Çuğun-Gscheidel1h ago
@vrandecic She’s assuming the people who were rounded up do not have family or friends who will come looking for her renovated house.