Immigration Reform On Whose Dime?

Forbes ^ | 05.01.06 | Mark Hopson and Thomas Green

[IrishMike]

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has announced that the Bush administration is prepared to use criminal sanctions to "break the back" of businesses that hire unauthorized workers.

No one seriously disputes the existence of an illegal immigration problem in this country. But aggressive and costly enforcement initiatives against employers are fundamentally unfair, since they fail to address the underlying problems, such as porous borders and the easy availability of counterfeit documents. Our immigration problems will not be improved by passing the buck to corporate America.

The simple reason is that decisions about a person's right to work in this country belong exclusively to the federal government. States can't do it, which is why they regularly and improperly issue drivers licenses or other identity documents to illegal aliens. Local governments also lack the resources and ability to make the determination of who is "legal" in the context of providing health, education and other benefits.

So, what makes anyone think private employers are equipped and able to take on a job that the federal, state and local governments can't or won't do?

[mtbopfuyn]

the Bush administration is prepared to use criminal sanctions to "break the back" of businesses that hire unauthorized workers.

Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

[wolfcreek]

If someone took note of the businesses that were closed Monday, those would be a good place to start. Prices WILL rise if these companies are forced to use legal employees but, in the long run, it will be better for the country.

[livius]

There are probably many who don't ask, you're right. But many illegals have great looking counterfeit documentation and even valid SS numbers (somebody else's, of course). That's why it's so hard even for law enforcement to find out who they are. And of course, Mexico provides little or no assistance in this process.

[saganite]

I googled it up and read the article. Pelosi led the fight to keep the provision in and then immediately after the vote stood up and denounced it as mean spirited! That takes a lot of gall, not to mention cynicism.

[bondjamesbond]

A simple three step process to discourage illegal employment:

Step 1: When you observe a landscaper truck or construction crew that is obviously employing illegal labor, note the number on the side of the truck and the address of the homeowner who has contracted for this work.

Step 2: Call the company and ask if they can demonstrate that they employ only legal workers and US citizens. If they cannot or will not, proceed to...

Step 3: Write a letter to the happy homeowner, to inform him that he might, in effect, be the direct employer of several illegal aliens, and may be subject to the criminal penalties that can result from employing people without requring documentation.

Given the nature of casual employment, often the workers are treated as independent sub-contractors, who are paid for the work performed, but are not employees of the company that has contracted to do the work. As a result, their ultimate employment relationship is not with the company, but with the homeowner, and it is the homeowner's responsibility to perform due diligence to ensure he is employing legal labor and that taxes are collected and paid.

Now most homeowners are will look the other way, because they are getting a good deal. I would bet dollars to donuts, though, that lot's of them don't realize what they are opening themselves up to.

And, of course, there are the various insurance issues. If you are dealing with a company that is hiring employees illegally, you can bet your bottom dollar (in fact, you are!) that those employees are not covered by his liablity insurance or workman's compensation insurance. So when a worker cleaning the gutters takes a header off the ladder and will require lifelong medical care, it falls to the homeowner to duke it out with his homeowner's insurance company over whether or not this man is covered. And unless you carry excess liability umbrella coverage, the limits are so low that the money will be exhausted quickly, anyway.

The only responsible party in these transactions is the homeowner. He has the most to lose, and is in ultimate control. Homeowners have to be conditioned to demand legal labor and proof of insurance before they will contract with any service provider. He'll pay a little more up front, but will protect himself down the road.

[bondjamesbond]

So, what makes anyone think private employers are equipped and able to take on a job that the federal, state and local governments can't or won't do?

The last time I hired a lot of people, it was back in the '80s. But back then, we had the old three-part form. It wasn't very complicated. You needed to get the documentation to fill out the form, or there was no employment contract.

They still have the same form today, OMB No. 1615-0047. It's not that complicated.

Employers who do not bother with this form are breaking the law.

[FunkyZero]

IF in fact, any legislation gets passed that gives any form of "amnesty" to illegals living here, anyone who has ever been prosecuted for tax evasion MUST file a discrimination suit against the fed.
Additionally, regular taxpayers should also be able to claim discrimination by being forced to pay taxes while giving a waiver to illegals.

Also, will any of these illegal aliens be charged with fraud for ripping off Medicare? will any of them have their wages garnished by the hospital where they never paid their bill? what about stealing their food stamps? Child care? School lunches? Did they pay taxes to support the school their illegal children attended?
ANY sort of amnesty for these parasites should include back taxes.. not a lame 2-3 thousand dollar fine, but back taxes. the full amount PLUS penalties.

I WANT MY MONEY BACK !

[bondjamesbond]

The FedGuv should require all states to clearly indicate citizenship or resident alien status on all state-issued IDs. Make FedFunds for highway construction dependent on compliance, and states will trip over themselves to implement the new requirement.

Right now state-issued IDs are a huge hole in the enforcement effort.

[Labyrinthos]

Again, if I recall correctly, the Fed's have a toll free hotline for businesses to use to verify indentity. If Pedro Lopez provides a social security number that belongs to Mary Smith, who died in 1978, then the employer should be able to accurately assess the situation with a phone call. Most employers, however, would rather not know, and they should be in jail.

[BufordP]

The rats shot it down...

Yep. Click on both links below:

H.AMDT.656 (A019) to H R 4437 RECORDED VOTE 16-Dec-2005 7:26 PM
AUTHOR(S): Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin Amendment
QUESTION:On Agreeing to the Amendment

	Ayes	Noes	PRES	NV
Republican	156	65		9
Rats	8	191		3
Independent		1
TOTALS	164	257		12

[Ben Ficklin]

"throw a few white collar executives in jail"

You didn't read the article, or you did read the article and didn't want to believe it.

The article points out that the Tyson case broke the back of the Justice Dept. Lets breifly review that case.

Justice accuses Tyson of targeting illegals in recruitment. Tyson says we are aggreesively targeting new employees, but hire no one without documentation. Furthermore, Tyson demonstrates that they participate voluntarily in the FedGovs employee verification system and if the feds can't determine the job applicants status, how can Tyson.

Jury says Not Guilty.

[NRA1995]

Sorry, Forbes Magazine, but businesses which hire illegals are part of an unholy business/government alliance that dictates "look-the-other-way." As long as both are part of the problem and not part of the solution, the mess we have will continue.

[newcthem]

I agree that employers should be held accountable BUT it is totally unrealistic to put the employers in charge of enforcing laws.......Suppose I find one of my employees is illegal.......then what? I call the local police...they are forbidden by the local politicans from getting involved. I call the INS.....same story. Whats next.......hire my own U-Haul and drive them to the border myself?

This is as big a joke as Senor Bush's previous "actions" on illegals.

[saganite]

Businesses are already tasked with enforcing laws. If you don't believe me just look at your paycheck and note the deductions for taxes.

[zeugma]

570 KLIF in Dallas took note of the businesses that closed:

From http://www.klif.com/Headlines4.asp?TableNo=2&TableName=ThirdList

Here are some local businesses closed for the boycott



Ojedas Resturant -
4617 Maple Ave
Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 528-8383

Herreras Resturant -
5427 Denton Dr
Dallas, TX 75235
(214) 630-2599

Caesaer's Tacos
Oak Cliff

Panadiera Vera
Oak Cliff


Gallo Wines
Sonoma California

LA Hacienda Ranch
(972) 248-2424
17390 Preston Rd Ste 100
Dallas, TX 75252

MI Cocina
(469) 621-0451
7750 N Macarthur Blvd, Irving, TX and South Lake

8.0 3rd and Commerce Streets
and Cabo Grande 3rd & Houston Streets and Ado's (Sundance Square)

Stemmons Wok Dallas

Jack in the Box Dallas (Preston at Forest)

Christina's in Flower Mound

Continental Cabinets in Lancaster

Frenchies lawn care is closed today his number is 940 390 3182

A&E Party Solutions
Gus Thomason Road
Mesquite
TX 75150
Store phone # 972 613 7017

Sunpower truck stop restaurant in Denton is closed today their number is 940 383 1655

Celebrity Bakery (@ Parker & Preston in Plano)

Amrep in Lancaster, TX. is closed today. Here is their phone number
972-227-3304

Mariano's in Arlington......2614 Majesty Dr., 817-640-5118.

Jalapeños Mexican Grill – Allen, TX

Aca Y Alla and All Good Cafe Dallas

C & M Discount Tires Store #4
1213 Buckingham Rd. 972-414-0932

Los Tres Amigos in Wichita Falls

The Montgomery Street Cafe in Fort Worth

Angel Ink
5228 Gus Thomasson Rd
Mesquite, TX 75150
Phone: (972) 682-5777

All 10 Malone's Stores

[ThanhPhero]

President Bush seems determined to end Republican dominance in the government with this amnesty idea. Just promoting it is bringing new floods of Mexicans and other Latinos to the border. All those illegals will provide a certain number of illegal but counted votes for Democrats and those that achieve citizenship will be reliable votes for Democrats. Officially we are discussing 11 million of these potential and illegal Democrats. Actually there may be as many as 40 million. And they vote. Democrat. Mex-American and Otherlatino-Americans are as reliably Democrat voters as Dead-Americans are. Why is Bush so intent on packing the vote for the Democrats?

[television is just wrong]

actually the last President to do something about illegal immigration, was President Eisenhower.

[Mamzelle]

re: But aggressive and costly enforcement initiatives against employers are fundamentally unfair, since they fail to address the underlying problems, such as porous borders and the easy availability of counterfeit documents. Our immigration problems will not be improved by passing the buck to corporate America. )))

Hah! The employers wink at fake documents, and seek out the illegals because they are subservient!

Pass the buck right back at them.

[Mamzelle]

I know you'll hate hearing this, but the last president to enforce immigration law was Jimmy Carter.

Hey, I hate writing it, too--

[IrishMike]

1988 .. didn't Ronald Reagan legalize 4 million illegals ?