City Council: It's the fed's job to protect our borders
http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readartic ... =19373&z=3
FORT MYERS: Dozens of illegal immigrants were busted while working on Lee County's new jail. Now, the city wants to prevent a similar scene from happening again. But NBC2 found out the problem may be out of its hands.
Some might say it was a picture of irony when two dozen suspected undocumented workers - some builders, some painters - went to jail after officials with ICE say they worked on a jail illegally.
"You might say it was somewhat of an embarrassment for the county to arrest people that were working for the county," said Tom Leonardo of the Fort Myers City Council.
That's why the City of Fort Myers wants its contracted workers to dig into their employees' histories.
In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Immigration Reform and Control Act which criminalizes employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers.
Immigration lawyer David Mourick says workers who are in Southwest Florida illegally often trick employers. They simply fake it.
Mourick: If they've got a social security number, why would you question anything else? Why should you have to?
NBC2: So if the paperwork seems credible, a lot of employers just let it go?
Mourick: Yes, and to be quite honest, a lot of them don't really want to look that closely at it.
Certain subcontractors for the Lee County Jail project say they did look closely when they hired these workers. Now, the City of Fort Myers urges the same for those behind efforts like street scape.
When it comes to the major projects, the last thing city leaders want to do is play police. They say that's what the federal government is for when it comes to undocumented workers.
Instead, what they want to do is put a lot more pressure on subcontractors when it comes to doing the background checks.
"It's not something that we ought to try to be enforcing," said Leonardo. "If we take a moral position on city council, it sends a message to the development community."
And Monday night, the Fort Myers City Council decided it can only do so much to keep illegal workers off the payroll. Members say they will leave it up to the feds to protect our borders.
Anyone who would like to remind them of the MORAL duties to their community feel free to do so.
Mayor's Office
Jim Humphrey
(239) 461-2610
mayorhumphrey@cityftmyers.com
City of Fort Myers Council Members
Ward 1
Councilman Warren Wright
(239) 332-6605
councilmanwright@cityftmyers.com
Ward 2
Councilman Johnny W. Streets Jr.
(239) 461-2611
councilmanstreets@cityftmyers.com
Ward 3
Councilman Levon Simms
(239) 461-3767
councilmansimms@cityftmyers.com
Ward 4
Councilman Michael Flanders
(239) 332-6142
councilmanflanders@cityftmyers.com
Ward 5
Councilman Randy Henderson
(239) 332-6733
councilmanhenderson@cityftmyers.com
Ward 6
Councilman Tom Leonardo
(239) 332-6312
councilmanleonardo@cityftmyers.com
Lee County Commissioners
BOB JANES
COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT No. 1
Phone: 239-533-2224
FAX: 239-485-2155 Mailing Address: Box 398, Ft. Myers, Florida 33902-0398
Office Location: Old Lee County Courthouse
2120 Main Street, Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Cape Coral Office Location: Lee County Government Center
1039 S. E. 9th Place, 3rd FL, Room 309
Cape Coral, Florida 33990
E-Mail: dist1@leegov.com
Brian Bigelow
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - District Two
Phone: 239-533-2227
FAX: 239-485-2099
Mailing Address: Box 398, Ft. Myers, Florida 33902-0398
Office Location: Old Lee County Courthouse
2120 Main Street, Fort Myers, Florida 33901
E-Mail: District2@leegov.com
RAY JUDAH
COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT No. 3
Phone: (239) 533-2223
Fax: (239) 485-2021 Mailing Address: Box 398, Ft. Myers, Florida 33902-0398
Office Location: Old Lee County Courthouse
2120 Main Street, Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Email: dist3@leegov.com
Tammy Hall
Phone: 239-533-2226
FAX: 239-485-2054 Mailing Address: Box 398, Ft. Myers, Florida 33902-0398
Office Location: Old Lee County Courthouse
2120 Main Street, Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Cape Coral Office Location: Lee County Government Center
1039 S. E. 9th Place, 3rd FL, Room 309
Cape Coral, Florida 33990
click here for a map to the Cape Coral Office
E-Mail: dist4@leegov.com
FRANK MANN
COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT No. 5
Phone:239-533-2225
FAX: 239-485-2092
Mailing Address: Box 398, Ft. Myers, Florida 33902-0398
Office Location: Old Lee County Courthouse
2120 Main Street, Fort Myers, Florida 33901
E-Mail: dist5@leegov.com
