Thread: UT Illegal immigration crackdown: Massive childcare closures

Providers say children and families will be the losers
By Julia Lyon

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated: 07/04/2009 06:26:26 AM MDT


Dozens if not hundreds of childcare providers will lose their licenses over the next year due to a new Utah law targeting undocumented immigrants.

Critics fear the result will be a tidal wave of children being cared for in unregulated homes and a significantly smaller pool of licensed childcare providers in a state where demand is already high.

"When we face a situation like this, our concerns are that providers will just go underground," said Encarni Gallardo, program director at the metro office of Child Care Resource and Referral.

New immigrants often provide in-home childcare as a means to care for their own children and supplement their income -- critical to supporting families during the recession.

Having a license insures that a background check has been conducted on the provider and anyone over 12 in the home. Various agencies also complete fire, kitchen, health and safety inspections.

"Now we're talking about a public safety issue in regards to our children being taken care of in a safe environment," said Sen. Luz Robles, D-Salt Lake City.

The state has nearly 1,300 in-home providers, which typically care for up to eight children. These are the programs expected to be most affected by the new law. Additionally, there are 293 childcare centers located in a facility outside a home.

Until now, checking someone's immigration status was not part of the license application or renewal process.

SB81 requires a government agency verify citizenship before granting certain benefits such as a license.

Though the law went into effect this week, current childcare providers can continue to operate until their license comes up for renewal later this year or next year. Only by next July will the full magnitude of the new law's impact be known. A few at-home providers have already told officials they plan to give up their license.

For at least a month, the calls have been coming every day to the Utah childcare referral organization. Owners are scared and confused about what the law means for them. They want to know whether they should turn in their license right away.

"The economy is bad for everyone," Gallardo said. "These people are being cornered and cornered."

Geirgina, who asked not to be identifed because of her immigration status, has run a daycare program in her Utah home for almost six years. She expects to close her business when her current license expires, maybe study English and take computer classes.

Without the income from her daycare, she and her husband, who have American-born children, are paying their bills in order of importance.

"Or maybe I need to go clean houses for my neighbors," she said.

But the businesswoman emphasizes the families lose, too, as long-term relationships come to an end.

"The parents trust in the providers and the children trust in the providers," she said.

Elena, who asked not to be identifed because of her immigration status, hopes the law changes by the time her license comes up for renewal next year. She has tried to follow every rule when it comes to her business.

"I don't know what I will do because this situation is worse and worse," she said.

jlyon@sltrib.com


http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12749398

Elena, who asked not to be identifed because of her immigration status, hopes the law changes by the time her license comes up for renewal next year. She has tried to follow every rule when it comes to her business.

"I don't know what I will do because this situation is worse and worse," she said.

And......?.....Another option you seem to once again not even be considering because you have been enabled for too long by your "advocates"....?

Yes, thats right: Return to your home countries. You can have daycares there. Legally. They have children in your home countries, right?

You really need to start entertaining this possibility. The American people are OVER IT. We are taking back our government ASAP, so we will be enforcing the immigration laws. Get a head start. Go now. It is really in your own best interest. Your enablers won't tell you that, because they are enablers.

There are alot of illegals working as nannies, babysitters and in or own illegal daycare facilities here in Miami Dade County. At one point our county tax dollars were paying for a day camp and sports for kids of illegals as their so called poor parents can have a break. This is what happens when latino politicians do favors for their business buddies who hire illegals. As I have mentioned before if many of the illegals who can't speak English are hired by those who speak the same language.

Until now, checking someone's immigration status was not part of the license application or renewal process.

What's been the holdup? Isn't it nuts to allow persons of a character that allows them to invade a neighbor to raise children?

It's about time! And they better not even think of coming to California because we are broke! GO HOME! People everyday our joining our ranks and they see what is going on and they are pissed off! We are closing in on your illegal behind's and we will squeeze you out!

I hope they check her tax records, or lack of them.

Go look at the ratings for this article. The overall rating is only a 3 even though 45 people have voted one way or the other. Nine out of ten comments bash the illegals and the newspaper!

No wonder the old media is going extinct.

Critics fear the result will be a tidal wave of children being cared for in unregulated homes and a significantly smaller pool of licensed childcare providers in a state where demand is already high.

Come on now. There is a simple solution, especially in this horrible economy. Start training new, legal daycare owners/workers NOW. Then, when an illegal business closes, new, legal businesses can open.
I doubt there will be many "underground" daycare businesses. Many parents get a daycare subsidy. They must use a "legal" business, not an "underground" one. Also, parents who are not subsidized must pay out of pocket. How many parents are going to pay all of that money (daycare is expensive) on daycare, and not want to see a partial refund for it on federal taxes? The IRS will refund a good chunk of money paid for daycare, but again, only if the daycare is legal. Who is going to give up that refund just because their kid likes a provider that hasn't had a thorough background check because nobody knows what their real (not the name on their Social Security card) name is, or where they came from, or when, or what crimes they may have committed in their own country?

Think of all the childcare business opportunities this will open up for citizens of Utah who need work and a business?

Why would anyone want an illegal alien to care for their children? That is the most bizarre thing I've ever heard!!

A woman I know put her daughter in an in home day care run by a probable illegal alien. The woman's daughter had to receive special assistance when she started preschool because the child would barely talk-she heard Spanish spoken to her all day while mom was at work, and then English when she got home with her parents and was totally confused.