Obama Administration to Fine Employers as GOP Pushes to Replace Illegals with U.S. Workers

Friday, November 20, 2009
By Penny Starr, Senior Staff Writer

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said at a workplace symposium in Washington, D.C., on Thursday that the Obama administration is committed to cracking down on employers who employ illegal immigrants, but DHS policy states that the illegal aliens who work for them will only be arrested and detained based on DHS 'priorities.' (CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)(CNSNews.com) - Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Secretary John Morton made appearances in Washington on Thursday to announce that they are cracking down on businesses that employ illegal immigrants as well as recognizing those that try to follow the law by using an online system that verifies an employee's legal status.

On the same day, Republicans said that while some businesses are being investigated, most illegal workers are not being removed.

“We at DHS are committed … to investigating and penalizing employers that break the law,â€