Let’s start with the premise that illegal aliens are just that: illegal and breaking the law. Forget the politically correct moniker of “undocumented worker”. Hogwash. They are breaking the law by not following proper procedures to come into this country and work. Yep. I get the whole “they’re still coming here for opportunity and they do contribute to society and pay some taxes” argument. It just doesn’t wash with me. My gut tells me that they don’t pay all of the taxes that legal residents do. My gut tells me that they consume a disproportionate share of social services compared to legal residents. And when funding is woefully short, I have a basic problem with illegals getting services at the expense of legals.
But I also happen to despise the complicity of businesses in the US that capitalize on illegal labor. Hiring illegals at discount rates is an unfair competitive advantage. Everyone who gets paid for doing a job in this country should be legal. And it should be incumbent upon businesses to at least try to confirm the status of a potential employee. Since the federal gubbermint has failed to do anything with this political football and since it is very likely that it will just be an election lightning rod with no end game, at least one state has bellied up to the bar. Arizona has passed a law that requires employers to use an online federal database, dubbed “E-Verify,” to check the employment eligibility of new hires in the border state, which is home to an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants. First-time violators who knowingly hire undocumented workers with a 10-day suspension of their business licenses. A second offense means they lose it. It’s a start.
Many employers like Bailey say they are pruning their workforce of illegal immigrants to avoid prosecution, or have outsourced some operations to neighboring states and even over the border to Mexico. Other businesses have put a freeze on expansion in Arizona out of fear they will face prosecution should they inadvertently hire an illegal immigrant. “It is too much of a risk for us,” said Jason LeVecke, a franchise owner who operates a chain of 57 Carl’s Jr. hamburger restaurants in the state. He plans to expand in Texas.
Just friggin’ wonderful. Hurry up Texas and get your law in place. IMO, illegal aliens who queue up at the public trough (welfare, crime, etc.) should be deported at the earliest possible convenience. They are here illegally, breaking the law. I don’t want to spend money to keep them here. Employers who knowingly hire illegals should be severely penalized.
