[FairOpinion]

I personally have strenous objections to the government putting the burden on employers, wanting them to become INS agents. It's a cop out by the Federal government. It's their job to enforce immigration laws, starting at the border.

[NorCalRepub]

Well both sides of the aisle agree on this one now...and I do agree that if the employer was duped, or whatever, that is one thing....but if they knowingly hired illegals, well they should be punished.....If employers don't hire, then there won't be incentive to come.....that is actually MORE important then the border.....as many experts have said

[DB]

I'm an employer and I say do it. We've been doing it for many years.

The government should make it easy to accurately check if the person is legal or illegal. That's the key. With the Internet that should be easy. An employer should be able to check a person's legal status along with an online picture ID. The online picture ID would greatly improve catching people using other peoples social security numbers. When someone that is illegal shows up and/or using a bogus social security number the employer should be able to report it at the same Web site so the person can be apprehended instead of simply allowed to go on their way as it is now.

Get rid of jobs for illegals and places for them to live (rentals and houses) and it will put a big dent in the problem. Illegals should not be able to buy property or rent housing either.

[capt. norm]

I personally have strenuous objections to the government putting the burden on employers, wanting them to become INS agents. It's a cop out by the Federal government. It's their job to enforce immigration laws, starting at the border.

They are the very ones that are making a monetary profit using illegal aliens and they have been sliding all this time, and, for some reason, you want them to be blameless?

Please fill me in on where my thinking is wrong on this.

[kingu]

I personally have strenous objections to the government putting the burden on employers, wanting them to become INS agents.

Last I checked, I was an IRS agent, what's one more hat becoming an ICE agent? But seriously - an agent? Wink and a nod when they know they're hiring people with false papers. This guy knew he was hiring illegals - when you submit a bum SS number, you get a letter back. This isn't rocket science. Immediate verification would be better, though it'd be really nice if they'd sweeten the deal by adding a free background check to the instant SS verification.

It's a cop out by the Federal government. It's their job to enforce immigration laws, starting at the border.

The border is the start, middle and finish to any initial strategy, but I'll take what I can get.

[babygene]

"I personally have strenous objections to the government putting the burden on employers"

How is it a cop out when it's illegal to hire these people. Is it a cop out to arrest drug dealers? After all, it's the government's job to stop them at the border...

[oldbill]

Employers are breaking the law. The burden on them is to obey the law or face the consequences.

I have little sympathy for employers who want to squeeze out more profit by hiring near-slave labor and putting Americans out in the street.

[ConservativeMind]

Why shouldn't the employer be responsible? He's responsible for securing the taxes are paid on behalf of each employee.

Your position makes no sense.

[Caipirabob]

I personally have strenous objections to the government putting the burden on employers, wanting them to become INS agents. It's a cop out by the Federal government. It's their job to enforce immigration laws, starting at the border.

I understand your concerns, but this is a valid strategy against illegal immigration. If no one will provide illegals jobs, what reason do they have to come here? In addition, I'd recommend immediate cutoff of access to ANY government program. That's when you'll start hearing screams.

We need to eliminate any avenue for illegals to circumvent proper procedures. Then we will see the problem slowly resolve.

[marty60]

They wouldn't be coming across the border if they didn't KNOW some unethical employer would hire them.

[dalereed]

Stick it where the sun doesn't shine!