Few employers penalized for hiring illegal workers

SacBee ^ | 6-20-06 | Michael Doyle

[SJackson]

 

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has been lax in enforcing rules against hiring illegal immigrants, federal records show.

Now, lawmakers and administration officials alike insist it's time to get serious. They say they'll do so, in an immigration reform bill that so far remains stalled. But as the newly compiled records reveal, stern declarations sometimes lack real muscle.

Federal agents arrested 953 illegal immigrants at work sites in 2000, congressional investigators reported Monday. By 2004, the work site arrests had fallen to 159. Likewise, 178 employers received notice of a potential fine for hiring illegal immigrants in 2000. In 2004, only three employers received the fine notices.

 

"It's no wonder that many employers view enforcement as a remote possibility, and any civil penalties as a cost of doing business," Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said Monday. "And it is also no wonder that many Americans are skeptical that the federal government is serious about enforcing the laws."

Even in California, home to more illegal immigrants than any other state, authorities generally have lagged in enforcing a sweeping 1986 immigration law.

 

[brownsfan]

"Naive and misguided, yes, but I'm not ready to cross that bridge."

Payola... such a nasty word. Today it's called "considerations". When GWB gets out of office, he will sit on boards of directors. He will be offered very well paying speaking engagements. He will be offered stock in corporations. And a whole host of things I can't even imagine.
All respectable. All untraceable as being "payola".

Why else would someone spend $30 million to get a job that pays $400k a year?
I may be cynical, but cynics can be right too.

[gcruse]

You could be right. He seems like such a nice boy, tho.

[l33t]

"I may be cynical, but cynics can be right too"

In the age of pervasive cynicism, cynics are right most of the time.

[429CJ]

"It's no wonder that many employers view enforcement as a remote possibility, and any civil penalties as a cost of doing business,"

Pass a law raising the fine for employing illegals to $100,000 for each illegal employed. Give 75% of that fine to any law enforcement agency that catches that employer. Give 25% of that fine to any citizen that rats on any employer they know employing illegals.

Enforcement will no longer be a 'remote possibility'. And the near certainty that employing 9 illegals will cost them $900,000 will make saving a few bucks by paying lower wages not such a good deal.

If $100,000 doesn't produce the desired result then raise it to $1,000,000 each.

Not only would the illegals stop streaming across the border the 12 million here already will start heading south across the border because there will be no jobs available to them.

[stuartcr]

Right, and I should win the lotto too.

[SJackson]

This data here is indictment of all elected officeholders and shows it ain't about the laws or the programs, but a lack of moral will to do what must be done.

You're right, passing laws won't solve the problem.

[SJackson]

"The Bush administration has been lax in enforcing rules against hiring illegal immigrants, federal records show...You civilians don't get it do you? The time line for the decline in enforcement, coincides with the creation of the Department Of Homeland Security, the dismantling of the U.S Customs Service and creation Customs and Border and Protection(CBP)...but you still don't get it, right?This was done by both parties in congress to cover up the mistakes of the Immigration and Naturalization Service(INS), and to give the appearance of the clowns in congress as doing something in the wake of 9/11.

Perhaps, however these actions also fall in the purvue of the IRS and the Social Security Administration. No one reorganized them. It's a lack of will.

[SmoothTalker]

"It's a lack of will. "

100% true and it starts at the very top. The Bush administration has been beyond pathetic on this issue. 3 notices of intent to fine? Pathetic. The Clinton administrations record on enforcement was terrible but looks spectacular when compared to the Bush administrations. I've never been more disappointed in a republican president on any issue than I am with Bush on this one. He's selling out the interests of our nation for a bit of cheap labor. a

[SmoothTalker]

"Federal agents arrested 953 illegal immigrants at work sites in 2000, congressional investigators reported Monday. By 2004, the work site arrests had fallen to 159. Likewise, 178 employers received notice of a potential fine for hiring illegal immigrants in 2000. In 2004, only three employers received the fine notices."

Can any Bushbot defend this record? Can any Bushbot explain to me how the administration and the President still have any credibility on the issue of the borders?

[pepsionice]

The question is...how do you force a president and his entire law enforcement team to enforce the laws on the books? They are willfully looking the other way. The only method I can see...is state-by-state enforcement at state and local level...and make this Bush team look bad.

[VOA]

Few employers penalized for hiring illegal workers

The real-world title should be:

The Employers That Refuse To Hire Illegals Penalized For Being Suckers

[No2much3]

It was a pleasure reading your comments to this thread.

No2