Gov brings order by enforcing law
By Boston Herald editorial staff
Tuesday, February 27, 2007

The over-the-top reaction from some immigrant advocates might lead you to believe that Gov. Deval Patrick has ordered a mass ejection of illegal immigrants from the commonwealth, or something equally foolish.

He hasn’t.

What the governor did in an executive order issued on Friday, for all intents and purposes, was to restate the law.

No company that does business with the state may knowingly employ illegal immigrants.

Companies that do business with the state must verify the immigration status of their workers.

And now, there is a penalty to be paid if a company under contract with the state alters or accepts fake documents from any of its workers - or otherwise violates the law.



“I understand how most undocumented immigrants enter Massachusetts seeking opportunities, jobs and a better way of life, and I support balanced immigration reform,” Patrick said. “But undocumented workers cannot work on state contracts and we must enforce that law.”

It’s simple enough, and it doesn’t mean Patrick has become buddy-buddy with the anti-immigrant crowd overnight.

After all, this is still the same man who supported a tuition break at public colleges and universities for some immigrants who are living here illegally.

What it does mean is that Patrick recognizes we are a nation, and a commonwealth, of laws. Yes, the nation needs comprehensive immigration reform, and like Patrick, we are hopeful that the new balance of power in Washington will bring that about.

But for now, it is illegal for companies to knowingly employ illegal immigrants. Certainly it’s a misuse of taxpayer funds to hire companies that ignore that simple fact. And the commonwealth shouldn’t turn a blind eye, simply because some employers do.

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