Thread: Democrats offer plan penalizing employers who hire illegals

http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/story.cfm?id=4892

February 7, 2007
At the Capitol Today
Democrats offer plan penalizing employers who hire illegals
By Jim Small, jim.small@azcapitoltimes.com


Immigration redux Rep. Theresa Ulmer, D-24, talks to reporters about H2699, a wide-ranging immigration bill she sponsored that – among other things – would permit state and local police to receive training as immigration officers. With her is Minority Leader Phil Lopes. More than a half-dozen Democratic House members lined up behind Ulmer at today’s news conference in a House hearing room. Photo by Bill CoatesHouse Democrats announced a bill to add nearly $20 million to border security programs and create an employer sanctions program that would require larger businesses to make sure workers are in the country legally.

“We really feel it can do some tangible things for Arizona,” Rep. Theresa Ulmer, the bill’s sponsor, said today.


The bill is the product of months of work, House Minority Leader Phil Lopes said. H2699, he said, is the caucus’ comprehensive immigration plan.


In addition to providing new funding, the legislation also removes the strings from $10 million that was appropriated for border security last year, freeing the money up for immediate use. Additionally, the new spending proposed in the bill will be available for specific agencies and communities to use as they see fit, allowing them to address whatever needs are most pressing.


“We need to make sure our law enforcement has the tools to do the job,” Ulmer said.


The employer sanctions component of the bill is integral to the success of any border security plan, Ulmer said.


“If we don’t hold employers accountable [for breaking the law], there’s not much we can do,” she said.


The bill would require all businesses with more than 40 employees to verify an employee’s eligibility status through the federal Basic Pilot Program. The verification would be applied to all employees hired after Jan. 1, 2009.


Businesses that knowingly hire an illegal worker would face a fine of $5,000; for subsequent violations in a three-year period, the fines increase to $10,000 and $15,000. If an employer continues to hire illegal workers, the attorney general could then seek to have the company’s business license revoked.


Also, the bill prevents any illegal immigrant from being charged with human smuggling or conspiring to be smuggled into Arizona. A law passed in 2005 against human smuggling has been used by law enforcement officials in Maricopa County to prosecute illegal immigrants for smuggling themselves. Lawmakers who supported the legislation have said that was not the intent of the law.


Additionally, the bill allows the Department of Public Safety, municipal law enforcement agencies, and county sheriffs to enter into memorandums of understanding with the U.S. Department of Justice or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to designate who would receive training as immigration officers and investigate, apprehend, and detain illegal immigrants.


The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee, though all bills are required to receive an assignment. However, there is no guarantee the legislation will receive a hearing. Ulmer says that, although the bill is different from Republican-backed plans offered in recent years, the Democratic proposal deserves an airing in committee.


“It needs to be heard and we need to have open debate,” she said. “The people are asking for this, so there is no reason it the world we should not hear this bill.”

Theresa Ulmer, D-24, talks to reporters about H2699, a wide-ranging immigration bill she sponsored that – among other things – would permit state and local police to receive training as immigration officers.

I guess we should have expected a catch, especially since the bill is being offered up by a Democrat. Here's one catch:

Also, the bill prevents any illegal immigrant from being charged with human smuggling or conspiring to be smuggled into Arizona. A law passed in 2005 against human smuggling has been used by law enforcement officials in Maricopa County to prosecute illegal immigrants for smuggling themselves.

........wonder what the others are?