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Posted on Wed, Feb. 22, 2006

Senate Majority leader against amnesty program for illegals

PETER PRENGAMAN
Associated Press

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he opposes a general amnesty program for illegal aliens, but declined to discuss whether he would support a guest worker program that would allow millions of immigrants to temporarily work in the United States.

"I oppose amnesty. Immigrants are important to our history, our economy, and are greatly valued by our country, but at the same time, our focus will be on the rule of law," the Tennessee Republican said Tuesday during a visit to the immigration detention center at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Frist also said the Senate would focus on border security when it begins considering immigration reform proposals next month.

He said he also expects some senators will push for guest worker programs, but added it was too early for him to take a position on the subject.

Frist's opposition to amnesty was not surprising - most lawmakers in favor of a guest worker program say they oppose a blanket amnesty. But some Democrats and Republicans, as well as President Bush, have said that legalizing the status of an estimated 11 million illegal aliens through some sort of guest worker program must be part of any immigration reform package.

In December, the House of Representatives passed a bill to build more fences along the U.S.-Mexico border and increase the number of immigration agents, but did not include any provisions addressing the status of illegals.

Meanwhile, Julie Myers, chief of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, called on Congress to stiffen penalties against companies that hire illegal aliens.

Myers, who was touring the ports with Frist, said that fines in particular need to be increased significantly because many businesses who hire illegals currently view them simply "as a cost of doing business."

First-time violators can be fined $250 to $2,000 per illegal employee, said ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice. Fines increase for repeat violators, Kice said, but can't exceed $10,000 per illegal employee.

Myers said ICE also wants increased access to Social Security data so agents can better track immigrants who use fake Social Security numbers to obtain work.

The agency will soon launch a voluntary program to help employers make sure they are hiring legal workers, Myers said. The focus, she said, will be on industries like construction, meatpacking and hospitality, where undocumented aliens often seek work. She declined to release further details.