Thread: Illegal workers: Proposed crackdown raises questions

Salt lake Tribune Editorial

Illegal workers: Proposed crackdown raises questions
Tribune Editorial
Article Last Updated: 08/09/2007 06:59:56 PM MDT
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_6586074

Word is that the feds are going to crack down on illegal immigration by forcing employers to fire workers who present false or stolen Social Security numbers. Businesses that don't comply would face steep fines.
Good. The law should be enforced. Illegal immigration depresses wages for legal workers and allows dishonest employers to exploit undocumented workers who have no legal recourse.
But we have a couple of questions.
Who will harvest U.S. crops?
According to some farm groups, up to 70 percent of field workers are illegal immigrants. We don't see legal workers lining up to hoe beets or pick fruit.
Second, what about the Social Security database? It's only good at matching names with numbers and the information in it is often outdated, according to a 2005 study by the General Accountability Office.
If many more employers begin to use the Basic Pilot Program, the Department of Homeland Security's system to verify Social Security numbers, it probably will crash.
We're all for enforcing the law. But to be fair about it, the government needs a reliable system for employers to verify Social Security numbers, and as far as we can tell, there isn't one.
As things stand today, the Social Security Administration issues letters to employers if more than 10 workers' names and numbers do not match.

Under Homeland Security's stepped-up enforcement plan, employers reportedly would have up to 90 days to sort out discrepancies between the identity information provided by workers and Social Security's records.
If documents can't be squared, businesses would have to fire workers or face heavy fines.
The immigration reform bill that died in the U.S. Senate in June promised tamper-resistant Social Security cards and a better verification system. But opponents killed the bill, arguing that its provisions for allowing guest workers and a path to legal residence for illegal immigrants already in the country amounted to an amnesty for law-breakers that would only make matters worse.
Unfortunately, in the wake of the bill's defeat, the nation still is left with easily forged documents and no sure way to verify them.
And without a guest program for agricultural workers, no one can say where that labor force will come from. Legally, that is.

Who will harvest U.S. crops?

Give the jobs to able bodied American Citizen homeless bums! There's plenty of them collecting welfare and food stamps. Cut the free stuff except for the old and disabled poor and you'll see these lazy bums will line up for these jobs. Fine the companies who hire illegals..they do not hire American citizens because they have the cheap illegals to do the work.

Originally Posted by daggul

Who will harvest U.S. crops?

Give the jobs to able bodied American Citizen homeless bums! There's plenty of them collecting welfare and food stamps. Cut the free stuff except for the old and disabled poor and you'll see these lazy bums will line up for these jobs. Fine the companies who hire illegals..they do not hire American citizens because they have the cheap illegals to do the work.

WE have so many bleeding hearts here, that think WE OUGHT to help these illegals, when they should know we have enough homeless and very low skilled people of our own, that they could actually help by offering them these jobs.

"Charity begins at home"

Let prisoners and welfare recipients harvest the crops. Time they all got off their asses anyway.

Originally Posted by americangirl

Let prisoners and welfare recipients harvest the crops. Time they all got off their asses anyway.

I agree to that! Look at Section 8 areas! I have a bunch here on the Island and when I pass through the boroughs of Manhattan, they have cars that would rival the Hamptons!!!

I think they should be encouraged to use prisoners since it is a win,win situation for everyone.