As New Ipswich Chief Garrett Chamberlain attempted to do his duty and enforce the nation’s laws regarding illegal aliens, only to be informed by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) that they did not want to take ‘workers’ into custody, the Government Accountability Office [GAO] released an alarming report.

(illegal immigration, immigrants, illegal labor, Americans, lost jobs, ICE, immigration and customs enforcement, President George Bush)

9/28/2005
The Empire Journal

According to the GAO report, “Worksite enforcement is one of various immigration enforcement programs that compete for resources and, under the former INS and now under ICE, worksite enforcement has been a relatively low priority.�

It appears that lessons supposedly learned from post 9-11 are falling through the cracks. The report states, “ . . . after September 11, 2001, INS and then ICE focused worksite enforcement resources mainly on removing unauthorized workers from critical infrastructure sites to help address those sites’ vulnerabilities. Since fiscal year 1999, the numbers of employer notices of intent to fine and administrative worksite arrests have generally declined,� The ICE believes the decline is the result of document fraud on the part of the aliens making it difficult for the employer to verify.

Currently employers can enter a volunteer program to verify employee eligibility via electronic means under the Basic Pilot Program. The program was established under Public Law 104-208, of which includes the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.

In an effort to reduce the vulnerabilities sited in the report, the GOA recommends that Homeland Security address, “the Basic Pilot Program’s current weaknesses, and establish additional output goals and measures and set a target time frame for developing outcome goals and measures for the worksite enforcement program.�

With the current thunderstorm of criticism on the ability Homeland Security in the aftermath of Katrina, and the recent nomination of Julie Meyer to head-up the ICE, the report comes at a pivotal time.

http://www.alipac.us/article758.html