Posted on 08/19/2010 11:10:06 AM PDT by abigail2
Murrieta to consider E-Verify rule
11:36 PM PDT on Tuesday, August 17, 2010
By JOHN F. HILL
The Press-Enterprise
Immigration fight in Murrieta
Rally calls on council to mandate E-Verify, instead of merely "encourage" its use.
Published: 7/17/2010 08:18 PM
The Murrieta City Council unanimously voted late Tuesday to have the city attorney draft an ordinance mandating the use of E-Verify by all city businesses.
A few dozen anti-illegal immigration activists, still present for the 10 p.m. vote, clapped and cheered after the decision. The group had urged the council to mandate the use of the federal program that determines a potential employee's work status.
City attorney Leslie Devaney said the council could have an ordinance to consider by October.
Murrieta is the latest southwest Riverside County city to take up illegal immigration. The council initially was considering a resolution that urged, but did not require, employers to use the system, which checks employment information against government databases. A group of anti-immigration activists urged the council to pass a law mandating use of E-Verify.
Some called the resolution a "cop-out" during a rally before the meeting.
Seventeen people spoke during the public comment session -- all urging the council to mandate E-Verify.
"Get it passed and get these illegals out of here," said Faye Wons.
Eleanor Harvison, 16, of Murrieta, said she is about to enter the work force and that the council should pass a tough law.
"People that are legal should work. People that are illegal shouldn't work. They should work in their own country," Harvison said.
About 25 protesters, many of whom said they were affiliated with local tea party groups, marched outside City Hall before the meeting, chanting: "What do we want? E-Verify!" and "USA, USA!" Their signs read "Adopt Mexico's immigration policies," and "E-Verify makes the job hunt fair again!"
Council members questioned staff about how the city would enforce a mandate, what it could cost and whether the city could be sued if it passed one.
Councilman Rick Gibbs said he felt the city could pass a mandate, and should because "there is no immigration system in this country."
Murrieta uses E-Verify to check the status of potential city employees.
Arizona's law mandating E-Verify has been challenged in court and will be taken up by the Supreme Court in its next session. In a report prepared for the Murrieta meeting, Senior Management Analyst Brian Ambrose recommended the city pass the resolution while waiting for a court ruling.
The Inland Empire Rapid Response Network, an immigrants' rights group, said in a statement before the meeting that conservative groups pushing Murrieta and other governments to pass E-Verify laws are letting federal officials off the hook for fixing immigration problems.
"Instead, these groups are directing their anger against local immigrant families who are already suffering from our broken immigration system, with far-fetched claims and anti-immigrant tirades that have little to do with E-Verify," the statement said.
Temecula, Lake Elsinore and Menifee have passed E-Verify laws. Other southwest Riverside County cities are considering them.
Reach John F. Hill at 951-375-3738 or johnhill@PE.com
Glad to see it happening. Need Riverside to jump on board as well, but doubt it’s going to happen.
..the Inland Empire is fighting back even if the rest of the state is in a coma...
it is very satisfying to go around to the different city councils and meet other Americans. These council members...not all not all...but most of them see what is happening and are happy to see that there is something they can do. It really really helps if you have a good size group and rally before the meeting because that reminds them that they have lots of support. Murrieta was considering it and then got cold feet when staff members urged them NOT to adopt E verify. They were worried about being sued. When we showed up and spoke (you are usually given 2-3 minutes to talk each, they lost their fears and voted unanimously for E Verify. I was surprised because 2 members seemed kinda weak....anyway we can help, especially Tedw, it is his baby. He can tell you how to organize a press conference too.
We went to the city council in Riverside be they were not ready yet! LOL Wait until all the illegals start pouring into their city from the other cities around them. Maybe the county supervisors...do you live there? Maybe we could work together on the supervisors.
Some cities in northern calif. are asking for advice now too! Anyone can try it and we will tell you the secrets. Only if you are in 10th circuit court of appeal will you have a problem.
The only problem I have with E-Verify, and yes, I use it in my company, is that it only verifies that the name and number given are ok to work, not that the person giving the number is ok.
Illegals are notorious for idendity theft.
But it’s a heck of a start.
Good stuff!
The county supervisors do not have to live in the city of Riverside. The city council rules the city.
It is true what your saying. However, E-verify is improving all the time and is now including a photo tool sometimes which DOES check person.
Anyway, even if it only catches 50% of the illegals showing phony documents, it is better than what we have now which is nothing.
Hi, glad to see you. molon labe
Yeah, it is mighty satisfying to DO SOMETHING! lOL And I am finding out these city council members are a pretty good lot. They are in a unique position to make a big difference in the newly socialized America, and they seem to rise up to meet the challenge.
Also, it acts a a deterrent because signs have to be posted in each company saying they E Verify and discourages people from trying.
I grew up not to far from Murrieta, CA. ... Lake Elsinore... ;)
Molon Labe!
Great news!
Actually if you read the 10 th circuit case closely,E-verify can still be required in 10th circuit states. Anyway, the Supreme Court will rule in the spring.
I have no doubt that the Conservative Court will uphold the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision. The 9th Circus Court of Appeal is far more liberal and couldn’t find anything wrong with the law. The Supremes are going to rebuke the Obama administration.
A link to the 9th Circuit decision can be found at this website:
http://nonsanctuarycitymovement.ning.com/
I'm glad governmental entities are starting to wise up. The majority of legal Americans are rabidly against illegal immigrants. I can't understand what part of "illegal" that certain groups are missing.
(Shakes head)
..cut out LA county and the Bay Area and CA would be OK
“..cut out LA county and the Bay Area and CA would be OK”
Yep! My county in Calif. is more conservative than just about anywhere you can find. In fact, we refer to ourselves as ‘the State of Jefferson’ just to distance ourselves from the liberal run cities.
You guys up there ought to get some of your local city councils or even the county supervisors on board with e-verify. Its not that hard to do.
WE CAN TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK.!
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