Thread: TN: Hamblen County Commission to consider law against hiring

Hamblen County Commission to consider law against hiring illegals

Posted: 6:00 PM Oct 23, 2008
Last Updated: 10:23 PM Oct 23, 2008

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- No area county has a higher percentage of Hispanics than Hamblen County, and that's why some people there say they're asking the Hamblen County Commission to make sure their tax dollars don't support contractors who hire illegal immigrants.

The proposal goes before County Commission Thursday night.

Even before the bulldozers arrive, some people in Hamblen County want those who bid for county construction contracts to sign an oath, promising they won't hire any illegals.

Bruce Sluder of Morristown says, "That's the way it should be. It should be that way everywhere. I'm not against it being here, but they should be legal."

It's a move that's popular with most in Hamblen County. Some say it's just right, other say it levels the playing field for contractors who do the right thing.

Ed Haley of Morristown says, "I know that our company uses a lot of people from Mexico and South America, and they're all legal, I can tell you that."

Wayne Dollar with Tennesseans for Immigration Reform and Education says, "There are probably hundreds and more likely thousands of illegals in this area, with either stolen documents or falsified documents, using them to get work around here."

The county attorney has already told county commissioners that federal and state law require the same thing, and that if this proposal passes it won't change anything. Still, those who support the proposal say it needs to be done and it needs to be done right now.

Dollar says a successful passage of this would be only the first step.

Dollar says, "We would like to see the fact that the contractor, if he's used illegals in his contract, could be suspended, maybe for ten days and the second time could be a death sentence for him as far as dealing with Hamblen County, if he's found to be using illegals."

But that, too, would have to be approved by the county commission.


http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/33047844.html

Left a comment on the source story yesterday but it hasn't been displayed, maybe a pro-ILLEGAL "news" organization.