Thread: Miss Senator talks mmigration law on Lou Dobbs tonight

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Senator discusses immigration law on CNN interview
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
By CHERIE WARD
PASCAGOULA -- State Sen. Michael Watson, R-Pascagoula will be featured on a politically-charged television talk show today discussing Mississippi's first immigration law -- the Mississippi Employment Protection Act.

Watson will be on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight at 6 p.m. talking about the law that he wrote in this year's legislative session.

"We're stepping up to the plate, we want to be first and show the rest of the nation how to do it," the freshman senator said shortly after being interviewed Monday for the show, via satellite. "Anytime we're leading the nation in an issue that has a positive effect, I think it's important to let the country know about it."

The statute, which takes effect today, requires employers hiring immigrant workers to validate the potential employee's legal status through the federal E-Verify program. The program is managed by the Department of Homeland Security.

According to the new law, employers will face losing their business license for a year and could lose any state or public contracts for up to three years if caught employing illegal immigrants.

A foreign person working illegally in the state will face a felony conviction that results in one to five years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections and possibly a fine of up to $10,000.

Watson called the statute "a stern piece of legislation that will be the cornerstone of immigration laws for the state" in February after unanimous passage through the state Senate.

Businesses hiring immigrant workers are phased into the federal program depending on the number of employees. Companies with 250 or more immigrants must utilize the program by today. Businesses with 30 or less immigrant workers have until 2010. All businesses must be in compliance by 2011.

Mississippi is the second state to mandate the E-Verify program, Watson said adding that Sens. Lee Yancy and Chris McDonald co-wrote the legislation.

"Far too many times Mississippi receives negative publicity," Watson said. "This is something positive."

Dobbs is the anchor and managing editor of Lou Dobbs Tonight. He also writes a weekly commentary on CNN.com and hosts a nationally syndicated radio show, the Lou Dobbs Financial Report.

The talk show host has been outspoken about illegal immigration. Dobbs' Web site states that securing the nation's borders and ports is the most critical issue related to protecting the United States.

Watson said being interviewed for the show was a favorable experience.

"I got the purpose of the law across," Watson said. "I let them know that this is something we're passionate about and it's something that's important to us. This is the real deal and it will have a good affect on Mississippi and hopefully other states will follow."

Reporter Cherie Ward can be reached at cward@themississippipress.com or 228-934-1442.ON TV

What: Lou Dobbs Tonight featuring state Sen. Michael Watson

When: 6 p.m. today

Where: CNN

http://www.gulflive.com/news/mississipp ... 991620.xml

Glenn Beck, on Headline news at 7om, 9pm and 12M Eastern times

Tonight: San Francisco Immigration Laws
Is the city of San Francisco skirting federal immigration laws?

This is great news. love the felony part of the bill, it goes after the employer and the employee, finally a felony for working illegally in a state is exactly what we need....it should also be a felony when you cross our border.