Former Bush Administration Official Testifies on Illegal Immigration Bill
By the Associated Press
2/4/2009

The Bush Administration's former immigration and customs chief has kicked off a series of four hearings in the Indiana Senate on a proposal to clamp down on illegal immigrants in the state.

Julie Myers told the Senate Labor Committee a bill putting companies' business licenses at risk if they hire illegal aliens would sharply reduce the flow of illegal aliens by removing the primary incentive for them to enter Indiana.

The bill authored by Republican Sens. Mike Delph of Carmel and Dennis Kruse of Auburn would give businesses additional reporting requirements after a first violation. An administrative law judge could suspend their license for up to a week on a second violation, and suspend it or revoke it permanently on a third.

Myers says the underground network of fake ID papers and cash payments needed to support illegal aliens makes them an easy target for criminals, and thus a national security risk. And she says some companies have expressly set out to cut costs by hiring nothing but illegals. She says that makes it hard for other companies to compete and jeopardizes the jobs of workers who are in the U.S. legally.
The committee plans hearings Thursday and next Wednesday before voting on the bill on February 18.
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