10:06 PM

Barletta knocks immigrant status bill

Lawmaker says feds’ “E-Verify’’ system would undermine state, local governments’ authority.

JONATHAN RISKIND Times Leader Washington Bureau



WASHINGTON – A proposal by a powerful House Republican to establish a mandatory federal system requiring businesses to verify a potential hire’s immigration status would gut the enforcement powers of states and localities, says Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton.

The freshman lawmaker, who is continuing in Congress a focus on the immigration issue that began when he was mayor of Hazleton, is criticizing legislation unveiled last week by the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, GOP Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas.

The proposal by Smith, not considered a liberal on the issue of immigration reform, would turn the voluntary “E-Verifyâ€