Thread: GA: Immigration status to be checked

Immigration status to be checked
Officials begin to review people applying for business licenses

By Camie Young
Senior Writer

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Gwinnett officials this week began checking the immigration status of people applying for an occupation tax certificate, which is commonly referred to as a business license.

The standard puts the county in compliance with a state law passed in 2006.

"I'm elated," said D.A. King of the Dustin Inman Society, who lobbied for the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act and has pushed for its application for years.

He said the move makes Gwinnett the third county in Georgia to correctly apply the law.

"I think it will serve as a tax savings. People who have no right to be here will go home," he said.

Officials said the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, operated by the federal Department of Homeland Security, is already in place for applicants for housing assistance. And the federal E-Verify system has been used since July 2007 to verify the immigration status of applicants for jobs at the county and its primary contractors and subcontractors.

Officials began Monday requiring all sole owner and sole-member limited liability corporation applicants to sign an affidavit either as a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident or as a qualified alien or nonimmigrant. The second affidavit triggers verification through the SAVE program.

"We've been a leader in the state in using these verification systems, and I feel strongly that tax dollars should be administered according to the full spirit and intent of the law," Chairman Charles Bannister said.

According to a press release, the county will pay a 50 cent fee per SAVE transaction beginning Oct. 1, and the Licensing and Revenue Board of Appeals will review denied occupation tax certificate applications upon request.
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.a ... leID=50530

Press release
September 18, 2008

Story Contact: Jock Connell
County Administrator
770.822.7095
jock.connell followed by ‘@’ gwinnettcounty.com

OCCUPATION TAX CERTIFICATE APPLICANTS

LEGAL STATUS TO BE CHECKED

(Lawrenceville, Ga., Sept. 18, 200 – Starting Monday, Sept. 15, Gwinnett County will check the legal immigration status of applicants for an occupation tax certificate. All sole owner and sole-member limited liability corporation (LLC) applicants will be required to sign one of two affidavits. The first is for U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. The other, for qualified aliens and nonimmigrants, will trigger verification through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program operated by the federal Department of Homeland Security.

Board Chairman Charles Bannister requested several weeks ago that screening be extended to these applications. The program is already in place for applicants for housing assistance, as required under the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (Senate Bill 529). Gwinnett has been using the federal online E-Verify system since July 2007 to verify the immigration status of applicants for jobs at the County and its primary contractors and subcontractors, also required by Senate Bill 529.

Bannister said, “We’ve been a leader in the state in using these verification systems, and I feel strongly that tax dollars should be administered according to the full spirit and intent of the law.â€

It still surprises me how someone who isn't even legal in this country can just open a business......that heavens they're cracking down on that too.

Don't anyone hold their breath until Texas gets the backbone to do this - or anything else.

There are so many businesses run by illegals - tire shops, auto repair, loan companies, restaurants, small grocery stores, even a travel agency !!.

No one is paying any attention, and business license laws, zoning laws, health laws are not enforced.