[Happy2BMe]

Do you realize how many *legal* residents of LA, MS, and AL are out of work now due to Katrina?

Why should illegal aliens cash in on our catastrophe?

[sgtbono2002]

My thought exactly.

New Orleans had 28% unemployment before the Hurricane Hire those people first.

Now another thought, : That 28% probably didnt want work to start with.

[DugwayDuke]

Ah, exactly how would you have an evacuee prove his citizenship? Do you propose that anyone with out a birth certificate be denied work? I'm sure you have a well thought out plan to deal with the fact that most evacuees do not have suitable documentation.

[lowbuck]

The purpose of my post was not to "green light" the employment of illegal workers.

As I understand it, under federal law if you or I apply for work we must provide proof that we are legally entitled to work in America. Without this "paperwork" we are out of luck.

For the people displaced by the storm, I think it is reasonable to defer on this requirement as many are legal citizens who may have been displaced without the chance to take along much more than what was in their wallet. Common sense would dictate that they should not be denied the chance to get a job and get on with their life. This is similar to the EPA waiving the fuel formulation standards (I recall for a few weeks or a month) to allow the supply of gas to not become restricted.

I am a bit aged, although not old in my mind, but I remember an America where to get a job you showed up and were willing to work.

To be really legal you presented a social security number so you could pay into our wonderful retirement system. Today, I do not think it is so simple.