A small step. But in the right direction for a change. A shame it's voluntary.
Posted on 12/09/2003 8:10:30 PM PST by steplock
S.1685 Passed by Congress: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1025355/posts
President Bush signs workplace verification bill to prevent hiring of illegal Aliens
S. 1685, the Basic Pilot Extension Act of 2003, was signed by President Bush on December 3, 2003.
It will extend for five years the workplace employment eligibility authorization pilot programs created in 1996. It will also expand the pilot programs from the original five states to all 50 states. Thus, all employers in the United States will have the option of participating, although the program would remain voluntary.
This program is an important component of preventing illegal aliens from taking jobs from those who have the legal right to work in this country.
How it works: By December of 2004, every business in America will have a nearly sure-fire way to verify if a new employee is an illegal alien or has the right to work in America.
Most importantly, no business in America will have an excuse for hiring illegals.
Right now , the job of trying to figure out if the ID shown by a new employee is a counterfeit or not is just daunting. That is sometimes a legitimate excuse and sometimes a smokescreen for why so many businesses have illegal aliens working for them. But with the new system, businesses merely use existing documents (social security cards and alien identification cards) and existing databases (SSA and BCIS databases) to verify employment eligibility. An employer using the system simply calls an 800 number, provides the name and the Social Security number or the alien ID number, as presented by the new hire, and then he receives either a confirmation indicating that the worker is authorized to work in the US or a tentative non-confirmation if the number and name provided do not match SSA or BCIS data. In the case of a tentative non-confirmation, the new hire has the right to contact SSA or BCIS and try to fix the problem BEFORE the employer may fire the new hire.
But the program is voluntary. The rotten, exploitative, unpatriotic businesses will still tend to keep hire illegal aliens or just not participate in the verification system. But polls show -- and our experience indicates -- that most business owners and managers don't really want to hire illegals, especially if they think their competitors aren't hiring them.
How it will deter illegal immigration: Basically, we believe every patriotic, community-loving, legitimate business in America will start using this system. Not using the system will be proof that an enterprise is a shady business.
Once this system is in place, we will be working with others to help citizens find out which businesses in their community are the shady ones not using the verification system so they can shine the public spotlight of shame on them.
Furthermore, once legitimate businesses with half-way decent jobs no longer are available for illegal aliens, there simply won't be enough work to keep 10 million illegal aliens and their families in operation. There is a good chance that the institution of this nationwide system a year from now will lead to at least a slow attrition of illegal aliens voluntarily returning home. However, the effect will be much broader if combined with the full implementation of the visa-tracking bill passed last year and with passage of the CLEAR Act.
No one action will resolve the illegal immigration problem. We have to take strong steps forward in incremental fashion. This victory is one of those very important steps.
A small step. But in the right direction for a change. A shame it's voluntary.
That is correct, a dog, and pony show to make us think they are doing something about the problem.
And yeah, it would be better if it were mandatory, with major fines and punishment for employers who hire illegals, but I'll settle for baby steps as long as they lead in the right direction.
Ten million illegals could not live here without the acceptance of a large number of our own citizens supporting their presence. And while the grassroots movement against illegals is growing, I don't think it is strong enough yet to drown out the hue and cry of the bleeding hearts who would attack President Bush in force. With the aid of the liberal media, Bush could kiss '04 goodbye.
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I'm suddenly recalling the time my daughter's elementary school decided to have voluntary school uniforms.
Now, if they would only make compliance with the internal revenue code & SS withholding voluntary, we would be getting somewhere.
That's exactly what crossed my mind. But, you know how it is. It ain't good enough.
After thinking about it, I have to agree. All the current signs point to eradicating the American middle-class, turning this nation into another 3rd world cesspool and one-world government. I guess I was having one of my rare moments of optimism.
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