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Lott keeps integrity of new immigration legislation
By Reuben Mees

Rep. Mike Lott, R-Petal, managed Monday to keep the integrity of a piece of legislation intended to crack down on both illegal immigrants working in the state and business owners who knowingly hire them.

The bill, titled the Mississippi Employment Protection Act, is intended to create stiff penalties for illegal immigrants who supply their employers with fraudulent documents but would also allow for fines and business license suspensions for companies that do not ask for proper documentation, Lott said during the Area Development Partnership's legislative update.

"The people of Mississippi are extremely concerned with the immigration process," Lott said. "Not only are illegal immigrants taking jobs, but they cost the health care and education system tremendous amounts of money.

"We want people to understand Mississippi is not going to become like Texas, California or Arizona where they have had to close hospitals because of these problems."

The bill would use existing laws that require employers to submit information about employees to the Department of Human Services and allow the Department of Employment Services to periodically check if undocumented workers were working for a company.

Although fines of up to $1,000 and suspension of a business license are possible if the employer hires undocumented workers, Lott said the bill allows leeway for companies that receive fraudulent documents from workers.

"We are making sure we are protecting employers by including provisions that say if they receive fraudulent documents, they will not be held liable," he said.

The bill has had a rocky road through the Legislature to date.

On Monday, Lott and other House and Senate conferees agreed to a final version that included penalties for violating the regulations, according to the conference report available on the Legislature's Web site. It must still must get final House and Senate approval before moving to the governor's desk.

Hattiesburg businessman Richard Jones, owner of R. Jones Associates transportation broker, said he believes the state needs to tighten its regulations on illegal immigrants but looked less favorably on penalizing business owners.

"I really haven't honed in on this immigration bill, but I am for a bill that makes sure they (workers) meet our required standards," Jones said. "In the business community we do need to make sure (workers) meet our requirements, but I don't know enough about this particular bill to say if I agree with the penalties."

Lott said some big business and labor groups were opposed to the legislation.

"But the local unions support what I am trying to do. Small contractors are beginning not to be able to find work because they are being underbid by immigrant workers," Lott said.