Latest news with #SteveWatson
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Security Engineered Machinery Surpasses Expectations in Steps for Vets Event
WESTBOROUGH, Mass., June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Security Engineered Machinery (SEM), a leading provider of high-security data destruction solutions, announced the successful conclusion of its Steps for Vets event, which was held the week leading up to Memorial Day. The initiative, which encouraged employees and participants to collectively track their steps, raised awareness and support for veterans' causes. Steps for Vets is a 5k fundraising event organized by U.S. Vets, one of the nation's largest nonprofit organizations dedicated to ending homelessness among veterans. Participants have the option to walk, run, or roll at their own pace, both at in-person events or remotely. The annual event encourages participants to track their steps, promoting physical wellness while raising awareness and funds to support U.S. Vets' mission to provide critical services, housing, and support to veterans in need. The event was brought to SEM's attention by the company's Culture Committee, an employee-led group dedicated to fostering community engagement, planning company-wide events, and supporting philanthropic initiatives. "As a veteran-founded company, supporting causes that benefit our nation's veterans is deeply personal to us—especially around Memorial Day," said Steve Watson, SEM Culture Committee President. "The Steps for Vets initiative was a meaningful opportunity for our team to come together in support of those who have served." SEM's collective participation helped surpass the initial goal of 100,000 total steps, reaching more than 217,000 steps, with contributions from SEM employees and management. Team members joined the initiative from all over the country; from their Westborough and Hudson, MA facilities, remote sales team, and traveling service technicians. Founded in 1967, SEM is a veteran-founded organization with a deep commitment to supporting the military community. The Steps for Vets event, held in conjunction with Memorial Day, provided SEM with a meaningful opportunity to honor the sacrifices of service members while promoting physical activity and community engagement during a time when individuals and organizations across the nation reflect on and pay tribute to those who have served. SEM's participation in this initiative demonstrates their dedication to supporting those who have served in the military, as well as its broader corporate social responsibility efforts. The funds raised during the event will go toward supporting veteran-focused charities, providing much-needed assistance to those who have served the country. "It was incredibly rewarding to see such enthusiastic participation from our team, with over 217,000 steps logged—more than doubling our original goal," says Andrew Kelleher, SEM President. "Together, we've shown the power of collective effort and our ongoing commitment to supporting those who have served our country." For more information on SEM, please visit About U.S. Vets U.S. Vets is one of the largest nonprofit organizations dedicated to ending homelessness among veterans. With programs in cities across the United States, U.S. Vets provides critical services such as housing, employment assistance, mental health support, and case management to help veterans transition successfully to civilian life. To learn more, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Security Engineered Machinery Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
MBIE Disrupts Organised Crime
Press Release – New Zealand Immigration General Manager Immigration Compliance and Investigations, Steve Watson says these groups had links to criminal syndicates who exploited vulnerable migrants by using them to live in residential properties to set up sophisticated indoor cannabis growing … Immigration Compliance and Investigations, and Risk and Verification teams, have been working to disrupt illegal activity by organised crime groups in New Zealand. General Manager Immigration Compliance and Investigations, Steve Watson says these groups had links to criminal syndicates who exploited vulnerable migrants by using them to live in residential properties to set up sophisticated indoor cannabis growing systems. The three-month operation involved investigating 38 companies to ensure that they were complying with their Immigration and employment obligations. Since the operation began: 14 infringement notices were issued to companies employing staff in a manner that is inconsistent with a work-related condition of that person's visa, with a further two pending 38 deportation liability notices have been issued for people unlawfully in New Zealand or breaching visa conditions, Two people unlawfully in New Zealand voluntarily left the country, 62 visas were cancelled for people who were not currently in the country, and a further eight visas were cancelled at the Border, Eight passengers were offloaded from their flights to New Zealand, 'Disrupting this activity now is key to preventing further harm and vulnerable migrants being exploited by unscrupulous employers,' says Mr Watson. 'As a result of our interactions with these employers, information has also been shared with, and referred to, other areas of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and partner agencies for further action where other non-compliance or criminal offending was identified.' 'This Operation is an excellent example of cooperation across Government agencies, working together to ensure that the integrity of the Immigration system is upheld and those that do not meet their obligations are held to account.' Many of these migrants were from the Vietnamese community. We will work with the migrants involved with this operation that are still in New Zealand on a case-by-case basis. Where they are breaching their visa conditions, or are here unlawfully, they will be assisted with pathways out of the country. MBIE, Immigration New Zealand and our partner agencies want to ensure migrant communities are kept safe from those employers who would exploit the conditions of their work visas. 'Migrant workers need to be aware of those who may seek to exploit them,' says Mr Watson. 'If you are asked to pay large amounts of money to an offshore agent to travel and work in New Zealand, it is highly likely that this is part of a scam.' Information about employment rights in New Zealand can be found on the Employment New Zealand website, and using Licensed Immigration Advisers on the Immigration Advisers Authority website, in multiple languages. We continue to encourage anyone with information about suspected illegal criminal activity in their community to contact NZ Police on 111 in an emergency, or 105 for non-emergency. Alternatively contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111. Anyone concerned with possible immigration breaches or exploitation should contact MBIE on 0800 20 90 20.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
MBIE Disrupts Organised Crime
Press Release – New Zealand Immigration General Manager Immigration Compliance and Investigations, Steve Watson says these groups had links to criminal syndicates who exploited vulnerable migrants by using them to live in residential properties to set up sophisticated indoor cannabis growing … Immigration Compliance and Investigations, and Risk and Verification teams, have been working to disrupt illegal activity by organised crime groups in New Zealand. General Manager Immigration Compliance and Investigations, Steve Watson says these groups had links to criminal syndicates who exploited vulnerable migrants by using them to live in residential properties to set up sophisticated indoor cannabis growing systems. The three-month operation involved investigating 38 companies to ensure that they were complying with their Immigration and employment obligations. Since the operation began: 14 infringement notices were issued to companies employing staff in a manner that is inconsistent with a work-related condition of that person's visa, with a further two pending 38 deportation liability notices have been issued for people unlawfully in New Zealand or breaching visa conditions, Two people unlawfully in New Zealand voluntarily left the country, 62 visas were cancelled for people who were not currently in the country, and a further eight visas were cancelled at the Border, Eight passengers were offloaded from their flights to New Zealand, 'Disrupting this activity now is key to preventing further harm and vulnerable migrants being exploited by unscrupulous employers,' says Mr Watson. 'As a result of our interactions with these employers, information has also been shared with, and referred to, other areas of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and partner agencies for further action where other non-compliance or criminal offending was identified.' 'This Operation is an excellent example of cooperation across Government agencies, working together to ensure that the integrity of the Immigration system is upheld and those that do not meet their obligations are held to account.' Many of these migrants were from the Vietnamese community. We will work with the migrants involved with this operation that are still in New Zealand on a case-by-case basis. Where they are breaching their visa conditions, or are here unlawfully, they will be assisted with pathways out of the country. MBIE, Immigration New Zealand and our partner agencies want to ensure migrant communities are kept safe from those employers who would exploit the conditions of their work visas. 'Migrant workers need to be aware of those who may seek to exploit them,' says Mr Watson. 'If you are asked to pay large amounts of money to an offshore agent to travel and work in New Zealand, it is highly likely that this is part of a scam.' Information about employment rights in New Zealand can be found on the Employment New Zealand website, and using Licensed Immigration Advisers on the Immigration Advisers Authority website, in multiple languages. We continue to encourage anyone with information about suspected illegal criminal activity in their community to contact NZ Police on 111 in an emergency, or 105 for non-emergency. Alternatively contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111. Anyone concerned with possible immigration breaches or exploitation should contact MBIE on 0800 20 90 20.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
MBIE Disrupts Organised Crime
Immigration Compliance and Investigations, and Risk and Verification teams, have been working to disrupt illegal activity by organised crime groups in New Zealand. General Manager Immigration Compliance and Investigations, Steve Watson says these groups had links to criminal syndicates who exploited vulnerable migrants by using them to live in residential properties to set up sophisticated indoor cannabis growing systems. The three-month operation involved investigating 38 companies to ensure that they were complying with their Immigration and employment obligations. Since the operation began: 14 infringement notices were issued to companies employing staff in a manner that is inconsistent with a work-related condition of that person's visa, with a further two pending 38 deportation liability notices have been issued for people unlawfully in New Zealand or breaching visa conditions, Two people unlawfully in New Zealand voluntarily left the country, 62 visas were cancelled for people who were not currently in the country, and a further eight visas were cancelled at the Border, Eight passengers were offloaded from their flights to New Zealand, 'Disrupting this activity now is key to preventing further harm and vulnerable migrants being exploited by unscrupulous employers,' says Mr Watson. 'As a result of our interactions with these employers, information has also been shared with, and referred to, other areas of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and partner agencies for further action where other non-compliance or criminal offending was identified.' 'This Operation is an excellent example of cooperation across Government agencies, working together to ensure that the integrity of the Immigration system is upheld and those that do not meet their obligations are held to account.' Many of these migrants were from the Vietnamese community. We will work with the migrants involved with this operation that are still in New Zealand on a case-by-case basis. Where they are breaching their visa conditions, or are here unlawfully, they will be assisted with pathways out of the country. MBIE, Immigration New Zealand and our partner agencies want to ensure migrant communities are kept safe from those employers who would exploit the conditions of their work visas. 'Migrant workers need to be aware of those who may seek to exploit them,' says Mr Watson. 'If you are asked to pay large amounts of money to an offshore agent to travel and work in New Zealand, it is highly likely that this is part of a scam.' Information about employment rights in New Zealand can be found on the Employment New Zealand website, and using Licensed Immigration Advisers on the Immigration Advisers Authority website, in multiple languages. We continue to encourage anyone with information about suspected illegal criminal activity in their community to contact NZ Police on 111 in an emergency, or 105 for non-emergency. Alternatively contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111. Anyone concerned with possible immigration breaches or exploitation should contact MBIE on 0800 20 90 20.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Immigration authorities claim success against organised crime
Photo: NZME Authorities have claimed recent success in disrupting the illegal immigration activities of organised crime syndicates operating in New Zealand. Steve Watson, general manager of Immigration Compliance and Investigations, said a multi-agency operation had investigated 38 companies over the past three months to ensure they were complying with their immigration and employment obligations. As a result of the investigation, authorities had issued 14 infringement notices to companies employing staff in a manner that was inconsistent with a work-related condition of that person's visa, with a further two pending. Officials had also issued 38 deportation liability notices for people unlawfully in New Zealand or breaching visa conditions. Two people unlawfully in New Zealand had voluntarily left the country, officials said. Immigration officials had cancelled 62 visas for people who were not currently in the country, while a further eight visas were cancelled at the border. Eight passengers were offloaded from their flights to New Zealand, officials said. Watson said the investigation was key to preventing further harm and vulnerable migrants being exploited by unscrupulous employers. "Migrant workers need to be aware of those who may seek to exploit them," Watson said. "If you are asked to pay large amounts of money to an offshore agent to travel and work in New Zealand, it is highly likely that this is part of a scam." Watson said many of the groups had links to crime syndicates who exploited vulnerable migrants by using them to live in residential properties to set up sophisticated indoor cannabis growing systems.
