The roofing company you hired had only 'white' people working. You live in Indiana, gee, what a surprise. In some parts of the country it is *impossible* to have any contracting work done with 'white' people. Don't believe me? Try it in south TX, or CO, or North East NJ for example. Now, tell you what, on seeing the obviously 'Mexican looking' person on the work gang, why don't you politely inquire as to their status. You will be either given forged documents, or you'll have the La Raza equivalent of Jesse Jackson's mob of discontented picketers in your front yard next day. Guaranteed. Do you inquire as to the status of the people that work on your car when you take it in to the shop? Or the people that mop the floor at your local elementary school?
I hired one of the few contractors who used local people. Most have Hispanics, and quite a few were cited for hiring illegals. Despite your sarcasm, the problems here are probably what they were in the Southwest 5 years ago.
As far as the landscapers, most of whom hire Hispanics, I simply asked that the company who did work for me guarantee that they comply with local and federal employment laws before I signed the contract. This is fairly easy to do, and Tancredo should have done so.
It isn't necessary to interview every worker and harass them. You simply tell the contractor that you expect him to abide by the law.
People in my state often do this to avoid liability. I do not understand why people think it is illegal or impossible to do.
Tancredo should have been more careful. Whether one agrees with his stand or not, he made a political mistake. Period.