Posted on 02/14/2007 8:07:55 PM PST by WKB
A bill aimed at keeping illegal aliens out of Mississippi is working its way through the state legislature. It requires businesses verify their employees are here legally.
Mexican immigrant Angel Palsencia works as a waiter to support his family on the Gulf Coast. He worries that could all change if businesses are forced to check employees' legal status.
"I've lived in Mississippi for 7 years, and to make that bill into law, it would stop the future of me and my family," Palsencia said.
Members of the immigrant rights group, MIRA, are trying to kill the bill that has passed the House and is now before the Senate Labor Committee.
"I think it's a really racist bill and an attempt to get people of color out of Mississippi," said MIRA organizing coordinator Victoria Cintra.
"We do have a problem, and we need to do the right thing," said Senator Richard White, who serves on the labor committee and is studying the proposal. He says small business owners are asking for tools provided in the bill.
"I think you're seeing employers taking a look at their employees and trying to make a decision whether they're here legally or not," he said.
Opponents say immigration legislation is best left up to Congress. They question how local law enforcement could even enforce such a law. The bill sets penalties for businesses that fail to comply. They could be fined up to a thousand dollars and lose state licenses and any public work contracts.
But MIRA members say it's the workers, not the businesses, who would pay the price. "The employees are the ones that suffer," said Cintra. "They end up getting deported and not getting their pay."
MIRA wants to remind lawmakers it was immigrants who did the brunt of recovery work after Katrina, and says they were forced here because of unfair trade agreements, like NAFTA.
Many lawmakers will be looking to take a hard stand on illegal immigration, as many campaign for reelection.
Senate Labor Committee Chairman Terry Brown says he hasn't received the bill yet, but when he does, he will schedule a hearing to discuss the issue.
Mississippi ping
America's future or an illegal's future,, which is more important?
What a dilemna.
Not!
Ping
They are supposed to do that anyway . . . on the federal level. It is just that the law is not enforced . . . or is selectively enforced against non-Hispanics.
Good law- only problem is there won't be any illegal aliens this time next year. Amnesty will pass the Democratic Congress for sure this year and Bush would walk over hot coals to sign it.
As he should.
Because I am here illegally and have committed a federal felony by reason of illegal entry and identity theft as well as presenting falsified information under penalty of perjury.
As he should?
WHY?
What part of illegal don't they understand?
"I've lived in Mississippi for 7 years, and to make that bill into law, it would stop the future of me and my family," Palsencia said.
Good news. The law is the law. You broke it! Now, get out of our country and follow the process to return legally!
I'm waiting for a public official to just lose it one day. "You know what? Whatever. If you want to call me a racist, a fascist, a Hitler, fine. Scr*w you. We're doing it anyway, because we're not listening to you people any more. Stick *that* in your pipe and smoke it."
Even better if an official said it directly to a reporter's face. The sound of said reporter's jaw hitting the floor would be heard as far away as Bombay when they realized that they would have to think of a tactic other than intimidation.
"The employees are the ones that suffer," said Cintra. "They end up getting deported and not getting their pay."
mmmmmm I believe that was the idea behind the bill. rofl These people are dense.
..should be the question.
The country has not been attacked inside our borders since 9-11. This, despite...if you listen to all the borderbots around here...12 million illegals raping and killing and...whatever.
Our economy, despite spending billions on illegal immigrant services, is the strongest in history.
So...why not?
Naah, because the next day, the reporter's headline will read, "Lawmaker Angrily Acknowledges Own Bill 'Racist.'"
How many Mexicans were flying planes on 911?
Please pass this bill, MS legislators!! As soon as you can!!!
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