Posted on Mon, Dec. 17, 2007
Blunt adds proposals to fight illegal immigration
By KIT WAGAR
The Star’s Jefferson City correspondent
Gov. Matt Blunt on Monday unveiled another package of proposals to combat illegal immigration, this time through sanctions on state contractors and new requirements for schools, cities and counties.

In a series of news conferences throughout the state, Blunt called for a specific law prohibiting the transportation of illegal immigrants and a ban on Missouri cities adopting policies that weaken enforcement of laws against illegal immigrants.

He also called for a law that would allow the state to keep 25 percent of any compensation owed to a state contractor caught using illegal workers. And his proposal would require all public employers to begin using the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system to determine whether an employee has legal status to work in the United States.

Blunt acknowledged that the proposals would criminalize activities that already are illegal or merely add to existing employment requirements. But the proposals, which Blunt plans to float during the legislative session that starts next month, would beef up the criminal code and give prosecutors more ways to fight illegal immigration, Blunt said.

“Washington’s failure to act on illegal immigration means that states have to do more,â€