http://www.boston.com

Sandwich rejects sanctions for hiring illegal immigrants
September 25, 2006

SANDWICH, Mass. --Town meeting voters have effectively killed a proposal to punish businesses that hire illegal immigrants.

The home-rule petition, if passed by the town's citizens and then approved by the legislature, would have made the Cape Cod town of 23,000 the first in the state to target employers hiring illegal workers.

But residents voted 572-301 Monday night to indefinitely postpone consideration of the measure, in effect killing it, the Cape Cod Times reported.

The proposal, which was opposed by human rights and immigration advocates, would have revoked, suspended or denied a license to any business found by federal authorities to be hiring undocumented workers.

Sandwich resident Paul Schrader, who made the motion to postpone the vote, said the measure would be divisive and that is the job of federal, not local government, to enforce immigration laws.

"Local intrusion into these issues will only serve to unnecessarily divide the citizens of our town and may result in unintended consequences. What we do here tonight will tell the rest of the world what kind of community we are, what kind of people we are," Schrader said.

Selectman Douglas Dexter, who proposed the sanctions in June, said they would give the town "the means to protect local businesses from unfair and illegal competition and homeowners from employers who hire illegal workers."

Other selectmen had at first unanimously supported Dexter's proposal. But selectman Adam Chaprales withdrew his support two weeks ago, saying it sent the wrong message that the town was targeting immigrants, and was unfriendly to businesses at a time when the town needs to improve its commercial tax base.

------

Information from: Cape Cod Times, http://www.capecodonline.com