Arizona goes after illegal hires

Christian Science Monitor ^ | 2007 Dec 31

[Wiz]

A new law in Arizona that takes effect Jan. 1 aims to punish employers who hire workers without valid US residency. Even though this experiment is by only one state trying to fix only one piece of the US immigration puzzle, the law may provide answers for the whole nation.

Arizona stands out in illegal hires – about 10 to 12 percent of the workforce. This border state with only 6.2 million people has more illegal immigrants than Illinois or New York. Two-thirds of Arizona's foreign-born population are not in the US legally, and the vast majority of them live at or near the poverty level.

The political impetus behind the law is due in large measure to the state's social services being overwhelmed in recent years by a flood of migrants evading tighter border security in California and Texas. The state, in other words, may represent the United States of the future, unless more is done to address the problem of both illegal (too much) and legal (too little) immigration. Since 2000, the US has seen its highest increase in immigrants, but more than half were illegal.

Arizona is doing the US a favor by going after the prime magnet for border-crossers – companies that offer jobs without checking an applicant's legal status. The new law's punch lies in taking away a business's license if the employer is caught more than once with illegal workers (even ones with fake documents). A similar enforcement effort by the US Homeland Security Department is barely off the ground.

[ought-six]

I want all illegals out of my country. Now.

[Wonder Warthog]

So the law has been passed. Now-—will it actually be enforced, or will it be like all the rest of the laws supposedly “controlling the influx of illegals”, and be left to lie in the dirt.

[Haddit]

Seeing all the top presidential runners are pro-amnesty I don’t have much hope. I’m still waiting for one single rogue judge to impose his personal views on the rest of us Americans.

[ovrtaxt]

If someone needs to break the law to stay in business, they have no business being in business. (I said business 3 times- cuz I’m cool.)

[gondramB]

>>Two-thirds of Arizona’s foreign-born population are not in the US legally, and the vast majority of them live at or near the poverty level.<<

Wow. That’s even worse than here is Georgia where its about 50%

[Onelifetogive]

A new law in Arizona that takes effect Jan. 1 aims to punish employers who hire workers without valid US residency.

I'd be curious who is going to be punished when the state is found to be employing illegals...

[Wolverine]

[nyyankeefan]

A new law in Arizona that takes effect Jan. 1 aims to punish employers who hire workers without valid US residency. Even though this experiment is by only one state trying to fix only one piece of the US immigration puzzle, the law may provide answers for the whole nation.

what does the US senator/presidential contender have to say about this??? What does his partner fat ted kennedy say????

[central_va]

a .... small .... teenie ...... tiny ..... glimmer of hope

[Vaduz]

Same as california NO ONE.

[webschooner]

This is already having its intended effect in one sense -- deterrence. I have spoken to contractors I know, and they tell me that they can tell there are less illegals working in the trades. Many have already gone home, and the trend is ongoing. And there are alot of stories of businesses who have been laying off employees in anticipation of the law taking effect. No business wants to lose its business license.

"What a Concept", Part I and Part II:

1) Passing and Enforcement of strict laws really works.

2) Mexicans living in Mexico.

[CPOSharky]

Even though this experiment is by only one state trying to fix only one piece of the US immigration puzzle, the law may provide answers for the whole nation.

Isn't Oklahoma doing something similar? Lots of sob stories from there about the "undocumented" leaving for greener pastures.

Story on Tucson TV last night about the increase in pickups full of household goods heading south across the border.

[Cowboy Bob]

In some encouraging news, I heard on the local station (Tucson, AZ) a few days ago that there has been a surge in applications for Mexican birth certificates at the local Mexican Consulate in Phoenix.

It seems like the Illegals are getting official documents for their children before they head back down to Mexico.

I've been saying for a long time that the US-born children of Illegals have DUAL CITIZENSHIP.

There should be no such thing as an anchor baby. The child should be shipped back to the home country with the parents. At age 18 they can choose their country of citizenship.

[a02001]

“What a Concept”, Part I and Part II:

1) Passing and Enforcement of strict laws really works.

2) Mexicans living in Mexico.”

You forgot
3) Mexicans living in Mexifornia and Stupid Gringos picking up the tab
/sarc off :-)

[Oatka]

Key paragraph: . . . And one economist, Philip Martin at the University of California, Davis, predicts higher wages will force needed mechanization and increased productivity in farming and not significantly raise prices for produce. That was the case, he says, after the "Bracero" Mexican guest-worker program ended in the 1960s.

Condoning illegal immigration is like condoning slavery, with the same results - cheap labor suppresses the need for innovation and invention.

Even if I have to pay a higher price for lettuce, the quicker admission to the ER is worth it.

[VOA]

bump

[muggs]

Many have already gone home

Or gone on to other states. :(

[HiJinx]

Now-—will it actually be enforced?

As long as the Arpaio-Thomas team is in power in Maricopa County, it will be enforced. Andrew Thomas has already publicized the date (1/15/08) after which he will start going after businesses.

I have less confidence in the Pima County (Tucson) Law & Order team.

[HiJinx]

I'd be curious who is going to be punished when the state is found to be employing illegals...

Interesting point...but I don't believe the State agencies have business licenses. I can state for a fact that the university in Phoenix (ASU) fires illegals from their workforce when they are found. Of course, that begs the question, as to how they were hired in the first place!