Republican bill curbs hiring of illegals

Winston-Salem Journal
May 26, 2011
WINSTON-SALEM, NC

Republican bill curbs hiring of illegals

For too long, the debate over illegal workers in this country has focused on only one part of the problem, the workers themselves.

A bill before the N.C. House of Representatives would make a good start toward shifting that debate toward employers, the people who hire illegal aliens, thus creating the incentive for people to migrate here unlawfully.

A bill by Rep. George Cleveland, R-Onslow, will require all contractors and subcontractors doing business with any government agency in the state to certify that their workers are legally employed.

The bill requires them to use the E-Verify system operated by the federal government.

If the bill becomes law, any employer who knowingly submitted a false verification form is subject to prosecution for a felony.

This is just the kind of tough measure needed to address the illegal-workforce problem in North Carolina. Employers who hire illegal aliens because they will work for less money than American citizens are part of the problem. Our tax dollars should go toward the employment of our citizens.

The federal government's E-Verify system is not perfect, as we've noted on this page before. It very infrequently and sometimes falsely identifies people as illegal workers. But the percentage of mistakes is really minute, and appeals are allowed.

Cleveland makes a good point when he notes that a great percentage of those identified as illegal workers fail to appeal that finding.

While we endorse this bill, we also hope that federal authorities are doing all they can to make the verification system even more accurate than it is today.

This bill can be part of a larger solution to America's immigration problem.

If the federal and state governments can squeeze down the sizable market for illegal workers, it greatly relieves some of the pressure on other aspects of a comprehensive immigration compromise in Washington.

If the bill becomes law, employers will have to make a very conscientious effort to ensure they are employing only those legally in America to work. That is a very good step forward.

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