[FairOpinion]

"Simple suggestion: why not prosecute the employers?"

"That's the best solution I can think of. Put a few employers in jail and see how fast they stop hiring illegals."

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That is the WORST solution. You can't expect employers to be the cops for the INS. You are expecting for employers hiring minimum wage help to do a background investigation on these people, which would have a prohibitive cost.

Businesses are over regulated as is, add this additional requirement and try to enforce it with criminal prosecurtion and you will see a great many businesses closing.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

You can't expect employers to be the cops for the INS.

Criminal prosecution would apply only to those businesses who knowingly hire illegals. There's plenty of them openly doing it today with no penalties.

Congress is also going to have to get serious about mandating employee checks during the hiring process. Right now it's voluntary where businesses can call in and verify a SSN. Once a reliable system is set up employers will have no excuses for hiring those who shouldn't be here.

[Marak]

[That is the WORST solution. You can't expect employers to be the cops for the INS. You are expecting for employers hiring minimum wage help to do a background investigation on these people, which would have a prohibitive cost.

Businesses are over regulated as is, add this additional requirement and try to enforce it with criminal prosecurtion and you will see a great many businesses closing.]

Actually, it is a great solution. All the companies have to do is verify the legal right to work in this country. They can use the SSN listed on the W4 filled out by the employee. Verify that the SSN is valid for the name given. This should not require a massive background check. If there are not systems in place today to handle this trivial detail, we should create it. It is a far better solution than ignoring the problem or trying to forciblly deport 12 million people.

[babygene]

"That is the WORST solution"

You don't seem to get it Mr. Fair Opinion...

When a company hires an illegal at substandard wages the taxpayer ends up paying to support them. A family can't live and provide for them self on even minimum wage. He!!, it cost $10000 a year to insure a family of four, and as much as $20000 a year to send two kids to public schools. Who do you thiks pays for this when the worker makes $12000 a year?

When an employer hires these people at these wages, the taxpayer ends up subsidizing his payroll. These people do not contribute to our economy.

[MattAMiller]

That is the WORST solution. You can't expect employers to be the cops for the INS. You are expecting for employers hiring minimum wage help to do a background investigation on these people, which would have a prohibitive cost.

Acutally I disagree here, you could provide it for free. Just provide instant checks on Social Security numbers. All you need is web page and a database.