Posted on 07/14/2007 5:27:37 AM PDT by radar101
Two business groups filed a lawsuit Friday challenging a new Arizona law that makes it a crime to knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
The Arizona Contractors Association and Arizona Employers For Immigration Reform asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the law, which was signed into law 11 days ago and takes effect Jan. 1.
The business groups argued the law is an unconstitutional attempt by the state to regulate immigration and that cracking down on such hirings is a responsibility of the federal government.
Julie Pace, a lawyer representing the groups, said the law would have a devastating effect on business in Arizona.
"Everyone is so fed up with Congress and the government with not giving us a legal immigration law, they are enacting illegal laws in different states to try to get Congress to act," Pace said.
Spokeswomen for Gov. Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Terry Goddard, who were sued in the legal challenge, declined to comment.
State Rep. Russell Pearce of Mesa, the law's author, said the law was designed to protect honest employers who complete against businesses who take advantage of the low wages paid to illegal immigrants.
"We have done everything we can to make it a fair bill," Pearce said. "Is it tough? Yeah, but it's tough on those who break the law."
The goal of the law was to remove the economic incentive for immigrants to sneak across the border and help lessen Arizona's role as the busiest illegal gateway into the nation.
Advocates for tougher border enforcement said state punishments were needed because the federal government has failed to adequately enforce a federal law that already bars employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
Many businesses and immigrant advocates said the new state law would weaken Arizona's business climate. The Pew Hispanic Center estimates that illegal immigrants account for one in 10 workers in the Arizona economy.
The law is part of a movement in many states to reject the long-standing notion that immigration enforcement was solely a federal responsibility.
The new Arizona law prohibits people from hiring illegal immigrants and requires all businesses to verify the employment eligibility of workers through a federal database.
Employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants could face a business license suspension lasting up to 10 days for a first offense. Businesses that take steps to actively get around the ban will get mandatory 10-day license suspensions.
Second-time violators would have their business licenses revoked permanently.
The law provides a measure of legal protection to employers who can prove they have verified the eligibility of workers through a federal records database.
David Jones, president of the Arizona Contractors Association, said the law will cause anxiety for employers without producing the intended results.
"Do you believe that this is going to strengthen our borders? Not at all," Jones said.
The business groups that challenged the law said the new rules violate constitutional due-process protections by putting business licenses into jeopardy without giving violators a right to call witnesses to establish a worker's employment eligibility.
The federal employer sanctions prevents states from imposing civil or criminal penalties against those who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
While the federal law does allow for states to impose licensing punishments on violators, states can do so only after the violators have been found to have broken the federal law, the lawsuit said.
Advocates for tougher immigration enforcement have begun an effort to bring a stricter employer sanctions proposal to Arizona voters next year.
Under that measure, first-time violators would face the permanent revocation of their business licenses.
Even though the Legislature passed and the governor signed an employer sanctions proposal, organizers of the proposed ballot measure said they would continue to push the stricter rules as a way to head off attempts at weakening the new law.
---
Arizona Contractors Association
ACA State Office
3030 N. Third St. Suite 940
Phoenix, AZ 85012-3039
(602) 246-8627
(800) 467-8627
Fax: (602) 242-2563
e-mail: azca@azca.com
Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform -
PO Box 17662 - Phoenix, AZ 85011 -
(602)501-6691
We need a list of the companys who are members of these 2 organizations. Freeping op.
So if the business groups argue the law is an unconstitutional attempt by the state to regulate immigration is a responsibility of the federal government,
we need to argue that the Feds are UNCONSTITIONAL in not enforcing the Federal Laws...the States need to step up and fight for the voters rights...
I find it unbelievable that these people can brazenly argue for hiring illegals. Is there no backlash? No one is paying attention?!
America is in very deep trouble.
“Julie Pace, a lawyer representing the groups, said the law would have a devastating effect on business in Arizona.”
Well the Judge needs to tell them that they have until Jan 1 to get their house in order. For builders and contractors that is more than ample amount of time to check their employees and replace the ones that are illegal.
Tell a friend.
Two business groups filed a lawsuit Friday challenging a new Arizona law that makes it a crime to knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
The Arizona Contractors Association and Arizona Employers For Immigration Reform
PING!
These groups can blather all day long but in the end, all they’re saying is “We want our slave labor”.
All you have to do is look who the big supporters of this lawsuit are and you can figure out why they are opposed to the new law. Apparently, business leaders in Arizona feel that their profits trump the will of the people. Mac Magruder owns twelve McDonald's in the Phoenix area. Jim Click owns a large group of new car dealerships in Tucson. Jerry Colangelo is heavy into real estate investments. Meritage is a big home builder in the state. The people of Arizona need to stand up and be counted. Boycott these businesses.
I believe most of the opposition is coming from merchants who cater to this community.
{{{COUGH}}}
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Hispanic workers landed two out of every three new construction jobs in 2006 benefiting from strong employment growth in the industry even as the housing market endured a year-long slump. [pdf file] The construction industry continues to be a key source of jobs for Hispanics and especially for those who are foreign born. The vast majority of new construction jobs in 2006 were filled by foreign-born Latinos, many of them recently arrived.Supporters:
ALCA - Arizona Landscape Contractors' Association
American Subcontractors Association, AZ Chapter
Arizona Chamber of Commerce
Arizona Builders' Alliance
Alliance of Construction Trades
Arizona Concrete Contractors Association
AMCA - Associated Minority Contractors of America
The Associated General Contractors of America - AZ Chapter
The bill prohibits KNOWINGLY hiring illegals and these businesses are fighting it. That tells you everything you need to know about their business practices. They want to hire cheap illegal labor but charge full price for their product or service. No law-abiding US consumer should reward their lawlessness by doing business with them.
so business want to legally challenge laws that prohibit the hiring of illegals ...which is illegal????
does that mean bank robbers can legally challenge laws that prohibit robbing banks...which is illegal???
Probably will, if recent Arizona history is a clue.
The Reconquista Front went to war over the Voter ID law, and tried to get it stayed; they failed.
Judges are sensitized now, they understand that we're watching, where 20 years ago that wasn't true. They can't just issue a restraining order and kill a law for years while they wrangle it out in court as to whether this little section or that is a no-no.
Suspect this law will stay in effect while these test cases proceed.
I saw a CNN piece last night (think it was Cooper 360), where some business owner was crying that he couldn’t open another 45 fast food restaurants because of the new law. Like this country full of lardasses needs another fast food restaurant.
I have heard many stories like this.
A man I know, a carpenter, said he used to bid on jobs but then the development contractors would show up with a semi full of illegal workers and they would all jump out and have at it for $10 an hour.
He’s scrambling for what work he can get building decks etc.
Talk about a devastating effect!
Unless Arizona has gone collectively insane, this move by a presumably professional association is commiting suicide. As a rule, I would want to hire a competent professional contractor, but I would challenge their professionalism if a local association did the same.
If "a devastating effect" is a cause for panic, you ain't seen nothing yet!
The business groups argued the law is an unconstitutional attempt by the state to regulate immigration and that cracking down on such hirings is a responsibility of the federal government.
This is the most hypocritical, self serving (and self-destructive) statement I have see in years!
Granted, I have come around to believe that this is exactly what Bush means when he said this is "what is best for America", even though it hasn't been as blatantly stated.
A most curious national perversion:
I can't enforce the law because it's bad for America.
On the other hand, I can't repeal the law because it's bad for ME.
Not a problem.
I assure you that there are a few members who do not agree with this blatant attempt at preempting a solution most Americans embrace.
In other words, real Americans and real Contractors.
That list will become available soon enough...
awesome! ty!!
Once identified, all of these businesses and their owners must be made to pay the price for their "me first" contribution to the social contract.
bump
Jinx, do you know any members of the Arizona Contractors Association who would be willing to get us that list of members?
bumping that!
As for the AZ contractors association filing this suit, recall that the last attempt at immigration reform in the US Senate was derailed on the amendment regarding builders and contractors having/not having liability over their sub-contractors' employees' legal status.
>>Fit will hit the shan when AZ starts shutting down nursing homes and assisted living homes.<<
The USA never had nursing homes for the 200 years before the massive invasion of illegals. That sounds right.
Ping!
I’m disappointed to see Jim Click associating with this crowd.
Smirkin' Jimmy would sell his mommy for a dollar, and he's never done a damn thing for Tucson and Southern Arizona except milk it for every dime he can get.
A friend in northern California who made his living for years as a carpenter, is now competing with hordes of illegal aliens who work for peanuts. He does quality work, but the builders want slave labor and no quality.
He's thinking of relocating to another state, but is afraid he'll find the same thing wherever he goes.
Now the Senate wants to shove "AG workers" amnesty down our throats, and they all realize that these "AG workers" quickly go onto higher paying jobs in the construction industry and other blue collar jobs that used to belong to Americans.
Sorry to disappoint you on that count. Jim Click is a BIG Supporter of the Catalina Boy Scout Council of Tucson and the Saguaro Girl Scout Tucson Council as well as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson.
Just my opinion. Won't get into the background of it.
Unbelievable.
If those businesses are incorporated, they should have their corporate status in the US revoked
Why are people stupid enough to buy these houses built by illegals? If a builder wants to be that shady and cut corners like that, you’re just asking for problems with the building down the road.
I agree, but it won't happen. However, if the locals get informed and stop using them...at least some may go out of business.....bankruptcies would serve them right.
Well, I'd agree to that...
And I would also say that whatever the motivation, if money is going to good causes like that, it's a good thing. Most surgeons aren't in the game to be Humanitarians, they just want to make a lotta loot, but the outcome is still good.
Did I read correctly that the morons on the Tucson City Council stopped supporting the Boy Scouts because of the queer ban? Or was it some other agency?
Yes, the Tucson City Council did just that. As did the Tucson United Way for the very reason you cited.
What's his gift to them? Bi-lingual ballots? Pledge allegiance to Mexico?
Please back off. He is a BIG financial contributor on his own and tw$tS the armS of other businesses to do likewise. Further, he sits on the Boy Scout Council Executive Board to help run the program. He also helps the oithers with funds. So Please back off.
Ain’t no illegal aliens taking lawyers jobs.
If there were, they’d be singin a different tune.
“...cracking down on such hirings is a responsibility of the federal government.”
Of course, as their influence is at federal government level.
These companies need to be boycotted, then they will not need quite so many workers.
We need to get their names, post on FR, and have locals in AZ make it known out there so that a boycott can ensue.
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