Thread: Crackdown wanted on illegals in WV

Senators want crackdown on illegal alien workers in W.Va.

By Mannix Porterfield

http://www.register-herald.com/local/lo ... 30930.html
CHARLESTON — Long before Congress stepped inside the complicated matter, two Northern Panhandle lawmakers saw a need to crack down on illegal aliens working in West Virginia.

Their effort failed a few months ago, in the last regular legislative session, but Sens. Ed Bowman, D-Hancock, and Andy McKenzie, R-Ohio, haven’t hoisted the white flag.

“It’s an issue we still feel very strongly about,” Bowman said Thursday.

Come January, the two senators plan to try again with a Senate-passed bill that would leverage higher penalties on firms hiring illegal immigrants and ultimately deny them the right to bid on state contracts.

Based on what his constituents tell him, “they’re seeing it as a growing problem,” Bowman said.

“I can tell you there have been a number of illegal immigrants that have been arrested by the Ohio County sheriff traveling through the Wheeling area,” the senator said.

“I think if one were just to pay attention on how many illegals were stopped last year by the sheriff of Ohio County, it is a strong indication that there are illegal immigrants coming in and working for employers some place in the eastern part of the United States.”

Under the Bowman-McKenzie proposal, fines would gradually increase with each offense. After the second offense, an employer would become ineligible to seek state contracts.

“It should not come down to a union issue,” Bowman said.

“It should come down to an issue about right and wrong, and it’s wrong. If you and I would go out and violate a law and get arrested, we would face the consequences. I see this as no different.”

Bowman said the problem in West Virginia could be far more troubling than some have recognized.

Not long ago, he said, it was brought to his attention that a third party was being paid to sneak in illegal immigrants to work in this state, putting them up in “very substandard living headquarters.”

“When you have a third party trafficking in human flesh for their financial benefit, it’s a bigger crime than all the other aspects of illegal immigrants that you would discuss,” Bowman said.

Based on information supplied him, Bowman said the majority of immigrants appear to hail from Mexico.

“I have all the sympathy in the world for individuals trying to better themselves and their families,” he said.

“No question about it. But it doesn’t take away from the fact that what they’re doing is illegal.”

The Bowman-McKenzie proposal cleared the Senate on a unanimous vote but stalled in the House of Delegates — a delay Bowman attributed to “certain lobbyists” who didn’t want to see the practice stopped.

“One thing I’ve learned in the process, sometimes it takes a particular piece of legislation several years before it gets approved,” Bowman said.

But in one regard, the two senators can feel good.

“Ironically, we introduced this bill before this national frenzy on this particular issue,” Bowman said.

“Andy and I were ahead of the curve. That was basically a credit to the fact we meet with our constituent groups frequently. We met with a number of union representatives who brought it to our attention. They thought they made a big case and they were right.”

Common sense is spreading!!!!!

“It should come down to an issue about right and wrong, and it’s wrong. If you and I would go out and violate a law and get arrested, we would face the consequences. I see this as no different.”

Amen! Common sense is right. Give this man a pat on the back.

I emailed both of these elected officials and gave them a thank you.

There is a poll that I think everyone should weigh in on. It's at:

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld ... 22095087=1