Immigrants' group asks Barbour to veto bill
3/12/2008, 4:15 p.m. CDT
The Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Advocates of immigrants are asking Gov. Haley Barbour to veto a bill they say targets Latinos.

Former state Rep. Erik Fleming of the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance said Wednesday the legislation would penalize businesses and criminalize workers.

The bill would require employers to use the U.S. Homeland Security electronic verification system to check whether new hires are legal residents. Employers who hire illegal immigrants are subject to losing their business license for a year and any state contract work for up to three years.

Any illegal immigrant found working in the state could face a one year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.

Barbour spokesman Pete Smith said the governor likely will sign the bill. The governor has until Monday to act.
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