Council approves illegal immigration measure
Resolution calls for policy on county contracts
By Bryan P. Sears
bsears@patuxent.com

Posted 2/03/10

A civil rights group and an immigration advocacy organization say they fear some legal immigrants may be discriminated against if the county abides by a resolution passed Monday night by the County Council.

The council passed the non-binding measure by a vote of 6-0 asking the county to develop policies that would penalize companies that have contracts with the county -- if they cannot prove their employees are legally permitted to work in the United States.

Republican Councilman Bryan McIntire was absent due to illness and did not vote.

Council Chairman John Olszewski Sr. and Councilman Ken Oliver, both Democrats, had sponsored the resolution.

"This is a direct result of the tough economic times we are facing," Olszewski told the council during a work session last week.

Olszewski said he would like to see the county use a program such as E-verify, a system implemented by the federal government to help employers determine who is legally eligible for employment inside the United States.

Ajmel Quereshi, an attorney specializing in immigration issues with the American Civil Liberties Union, said E-verify still has kinks that are yet to be worked out, and they could result in many legal immigrants being told they can't be hired because they can't prove their status.

"The E-verify system is not yet ready to be mandated or encouraged to be used by common contractors," Quereshi said, adding that a 2007 federal report showed that the program was "not up to date."

A representative of the immigration advocacy group, Casa de Maryland, Liz Alex, also attended Monday's council meeting and testified against the measure, saying E-verify isn't reliable enough to be the basis of county policy.

The resolution did have the support of some labor unions.

"The point we are trying to make is, American jobs for Americans and Baltimore County jobs for Baltimore Countians and the people of the state of Maryland," said Buddy Cefalu, president of the Mid-Atlantic States District Council of Iron Workers, during a Jan. 26 council work session.

Cefalu said local contractors are losing business to others who hire people who are not in the country legally.

"We have contractors who work their pencils very sharp, and they are unable to compete because of these illegals," Cefalu said.

The council resolution is considered completely advisory.

County Executive Jim Smith has not yet taken a position on the measure. Don Mohler, a Smith spokesman, said last week that more information on the resolution has been requested "so we can review it."


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