Greenwood, AR - Council To Discuss Illegal Alien Issue

Looks like Arkansas is coming alive!

http://www.swtimes.com/articles/2007/01 ... news05.txt

Tuesday, January 2, 2007 9:43 AM CST

Council To Discuss Illegal Alien Issue

By Mary L. Crider

TIMES RECORD • MCRIDER@SWTIMES.COM

The Greenwood City Council will look again today at a proposed ordinance that would make it illegal for any business operating in Greenwood to employ illegal aliens.

Scheduled are an agenda-setting meeting that will be followed by a regular council meeting, according to City Clerk/Treasurer Wanda Cabe. The meetings begin at 6 p.m. in Greenwood City Hall, 30 Bell Road.

It will be the first meeting for the city’s new council and mayor. Mayor Kenneth Edwards Jr. will preside. The only returning alderman will be Rod Powell, who will be starting his second term. Newcomers are Aldermen Jim Newcomb, Jim Gossett, Terral Meeker, Tim Terry and Lance Terry. Newcomb served a council term earlier.

The ordinance, proposed by former alderman David Purifoy, would require businesses applying for Greenwood business permits to sign affidavits stating they do not knowingly use unlawful workers. Violations would result in suspension of the business’ permit and an up to $200 fine. It will be the ordinance’s third and final reading prior to a council vote.

Federal law, section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, already requires employers to verify aliens’ work status. It sets fines ranging from $250 to $10,000 for violations.

Under the proposed Greenwood ordinance, business owners who provide proof they’d verified the work authorization of an allegedly unlawful worker through the Basic Pilot Program would not have their permits suspended.

And under the ordinance, all city agencies must participate in the Basic Pilot Program.

Washington-based U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administers the voluntary (from the federal perspective) Basic Pilot Program. For information about the Basic Pilot Program, visit the Web at www.smartbusinesspractices.com/legal_ho ... cpilot.php.

Also planned is a review led by Edwards of the city’s proposed about $12.5 million 2007 budget.

Greenwood’s almost

$16.1 million 2006 budget included the about $3 million construction of the city’s new water plant.