Business Affidavit Against Illegal Immigrants Proposed

By Scarlet Sims
The Morning News
BENTONVILLE -- Benton County should set an example and pass a resolution not to do business with any entity employing illegal immigrants, Justice of the Peace Burton Schindler said Monday.

"I'm hoping that, as a public body, we will set the pace and the example for everybody else to follow," Schindler said.

He will present his proposal for a resolution at the Committee of 13 meeting today.

The resolution will ask business owners to sign an affidavit saying that, to the best of their knowledge, they employ only legal residents of the United States.

Lying or failing to sign the statement would put the company on a do-not-use list, Schindler said.

Schindler hopes the county's declaration will lead other entities to draft similar resolutions and policies. School boards, cities and counties could solve problems and fear related to illegal immigration by creating guidelines, he said.

"Instead of all this hysteria, let's do something," Schindler said.

At least two cities have passed similar ordinances, including Hazelton, Pa., which is currently in a lawsuit over its regulations against employing and harboring illegal immigrants, said Rich Pierce, executive vice president of the National Border Patrol Council. An increasing number of cities are trying to regulate businesses hiring illegal immigrants because the influx of illegal immigrants changes the quality of life in small towns, he said.

Adrian Dominguez, treasurer of the Northwest Arkansas chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, declined to comment Monday. He gave numbers for the organization's new president, Hilda Gomez, but she didn't immediately return calls for comment Monday.

Immigrants must follow the rules and regulations, said Alex Martinez, a Benton County business owner and former league president. He said he had no problem with the county deciding not to use businesses that employ illegal immigrants.

"People agree and disagree about immigration, because it's such a sensitive issue at many levels," Martinez said.

Pierce said the resolution is a step in the right direction but would be difficult to enforce. He pointed out that the county couldn't rely on the honor system or wait for an employee to say a business lied about employing illegal residents. More proof would be needed, Pierce said.

Agricultural work brings in a large percentage of illegal immigrants, Pierce said.

"How is the county going to avoid doing business with farm owners?" he asked.

Schindler said he had been speaking with other county officials and looking into the legal issues. He decided something needed to be done after reading a speech from the National Border Patrol Council president, T.J. Bonner.

Benton County Judge Gary Black was unavailable for comment, said Rosemary Goines, his administrative assistant.

Pierce commended the county for taking action but cautioned that enforcement is key.

"The spirit of the resolution is very good, but the enforcement will be something else," he said. "There's a lot more to it than just saying we're going to do it."

http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/ ... tproof.txt