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5/30/07
National Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., has reached an agreement with the White House and Senate negotiators that would allow dairy farms to have guest workers for three year periods. Dairy work is year round and more complex than seasonal agricultural work such as picking tomatoes. The Burlington Free Press
Missouri Springfield City Councilman Doug Burlison has plans to introduce an immigration measure before city council in about two weeks that would advocate fining businesses that knowingly hire illegals $500 on the first offense, $1,000 on the second offense, and revoking their business license of the third offense. Councilman Burlison believes that businesses that hire illegal aliens have an unfair advantage over those who play by the rules; they are able to pay significantly less in wages. Springfield Police Chief Lynn Row said that the police department already has a full plate and doesn’t resources to enforce this measure. The Springfield News Leader
Montana ICE arrested 16 illegal immigrants, all of whom worked at Melaque restaurants in Great Falls, Butte, Belgrade, and Helena; three of the detainees may be charged with felony re-entry into the United States. The Great Falls Tribune
Employment Verification Within the immigration reform act, there is a provision that would require that the only documents acceptable for completing the I-9 would be a Real ID, a social security card, or a passport. Human Resource Executive Online advises business to be prepared by conducting an I-9 audit to make sure that your I-9’s are complete and in order. Second, “Look at the company's current workforce. Are there potential issues, such as an increase in green-card applications? Track visa dates, validity periods and permanent-resident status for any employees who have applied for it.” Human Resource Executive Online
New York Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents came to Zappala Farm in Granby last Wednesday with an arrest warrant for one farm worker. However, they ended up arresting 21 farm workers suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. The Palladium Times
Oklahoma The Tulsa City Council passed a resolution Friday requiring the police to check the immigration status of anyone who is under arrest. The mayor is contemplating the resolution. Critics say that it would take police officers off the street because it would take time to check suspects’ immigration status. It could even reduce 911 response times. KOTV 6, Tulsa
Georgia Gwinnet County Commissioner Lorraine Green has proposed an ordinance that would require that any contractor that does business with the county verify the immigration status of its employees. The ordinance will be publicly debated on June 19 and 26. The state of Georgia already has a similar ordinance. The Gwinnett Daily Post
The Daily News
5/25/07
Arizona The state Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would prohibit employers from knowingly hiring illegal aliens. The bill would also require employers to participate in the federal government’s Basic Pilot Program to verify that employees are eligible to work in the United States. The Senate, unlike the House, chose not to require employers to sign an affidavit stating that they do not knowingly hire illegals. In terms of enforcement, if a business is discovered to have knowingly hired undocumented workers or legal aliens not eligible to work in the United States, the business has 3 days to notify the state that it has fired the illegal worker or workers or face a suspension of its business license. On the second offense, there is mandatory, permanent suspicion of the employer’s license. The bill now will now go to a conference committee to resolve differences with the House version. My Fox Phoenix
Idaho Fourteen illegal immigrants were arrested at an Idaho City hotel on Tuesday night. They were working for Cutting Edge Forest Inc., which was doing contract work for the National Forest Service. Fourteen out of the sixteen Cutting Edge workers who were planting trees for the National Forest Service were arrested as illegal aliens. KTVB.Com
ICE agents raided several Mexican
restaurants Monday and arrested 21 illegal aliens. The illegals were working for
Taqueria Michoacan. Honorato Pedroza and Gema Riveras were identified as the
“ring leaders.” Mr. Pedroza has been accused of running an illegal money
wiring operation and Mr. Riveras of forging immigration documents. Action News 5, WMC TV, Memphis
National Senate leaders are desperately trying to hold the immigration reform bill together. Opposition continues to grow. Apparently, this is a bill that pleases no one. Yet, the reform bill is still alive, albeit in critical condition. The Senate approved some minor amendments to its immigration bill yesterday. An amendment proposed by Senator Bingaman was overwhelmingly approved which would lower the number of guest workers permitted in the country each year from 400,000 to 200,000 and bar any adjustment in the quota based on changes in the labor market. The Senate approved several other amendments: one would create a mandatory prison sentence for anyone who illegally crosses the border; another would raise the number of border patrol agents in the bill from 18,000 to 20,000; and yet another calls for 300 miles as opposed to 200 miles of virtual fence along the border. Many more amendments are in the works. The Chicago Tribune
The Daily News
5/24/07
National Opposition to the Senate’s immigration reform bill is growing. Amendments have been proposed or will be proposed from the left and the right. Organized labor is opposing the guest worker portion of the Senate’s immigration reform proposal of 2007. Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer, California, and Bryon Dorgan, North Dakota, proposed an amendment to scrap the guest worker program. The amendment was defeated Tuesday by 64-31. The Senate Majority leader, Harry Reed, stated that 400,000 workers is far too many. Evidently, the guest worker proposal will come under sustained attack. The News Press
Senator DeMint has proposed an amendment that would eliminate the proposed “Z visa” from the immigration reform bill. The new visa would allow undocumented workers to stay in the U.S. for four years. It would be renewable every four years. Senator DeMint believes that the new visa is tantamount to amnesty. Senator Lindsey Graham, a key supporter of the immigration reform bill, argues that it is not amnesty because of the penalties involved. An amendment offered by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-New Mexico, would cut the number of guest workers in half. Another amendment would make English the official language of the United States.The Herald
Human resources organizations are finding fault with the Senate’s immigration reform measure. The Human Resources Management website finds four areas of grave concern.
It claims that the Basic Pilot Program, which checks a government database to ensure that an employee’s name and social security number match, provides inaccurate results in far too many cases.
The Basic Pilot Program does not detect identity theft. Compulsory participation in the program could encourage more identity theft.
The bill would require employers to re-verify the identity and employment eligibility of all employees. This would place a heavy burden on business.
The bill makes business liable for the actions of contractors and subcontractors over whom it has no control. Human Resources Management
Missouri ICE arrested over 100 illegal aliens at George’s poultry processing plant in Butterfield, Missouri. ICE was investigating allegations of identity theft, social security fraud, and other immigration violations. Missouri Net
The Daily News
5/22/07
National “A comprehensive immigration bill cleared its first hurdle this afternoon as the Senate voted to start work on the legislation, which would offer legal status to most of the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants. The vote to invoke cloture, meaning to move to consideration of the bill itself, carried by 69 to 23. Sixty ‘yes’ votes were required. Nearly a score of Republicans voted "yes," while just a few Democrats voted ‘no.’” The International Herald Tribune
The Christian Science Monitor reported what it described as stiff opposition to the Immigration Reform Proposal of 2007 as the Senate initiated debate on immigration reform Monday. There is a growing and vocal opposition from conservative Republicans who do not desire to support amnesty to Hispanic groups that are worried that the proposal will be against family reunification. In the House, the Democratic leadership has indicated that they want the support of 70 House Republicans to get the bill on the floor, an unlikely possibility. Speaker Pelosi said that the bill needs to be improved in the Senate before coming to the House. With an election year looming, it appears unlikely that Congress will pass immigration reform legislation this year. The Christian Science Monitor
At the state Republican Convention in South Carolina, the crowd applauded when presidential candidate Mitch Romney lambasted the Senate’s immigration reform agreement and booed when Senator Lindsey Graham mentioned how he had worked with Senator Kennedy on the immigration reform agreement in the Senate. This convention may alert Republicans that a vote for what is perceived as amnesty may have dire political consequences. The North County Times
The Senate Immigration Reform Bill of 2007 could require all employers to use EEVS-a federal database, to check the identity and employment status of new and current employees. The system essentially checks a federal database to ensure that the name the job applicant gives matches the Social Security number provided. Businesses would have to sign a DHS form stating, under the penalty of perjury, that they have verified the identity and work status of an employee. Furthermore, the business would have to inspect, copy, catalogue, and retain work authorization documents, EEVS confirmation, and correspondence. There would be $1,000 civil fine per violation, not complying with the indicated procedure. Fines would increase from $2,000 to $15,000 after the first offense. Fox News raises an interesting question: should business be responsible to pay the costs of policing our border? Fox News maintains that small business already spends approximately $7,500 per employee to comply with federal regulations. Another question is also being raised: how much would this immigration reform bill cost business? Fox News.Com
Connecticut The Connecticut State House passed a bill that, if approved, will allow undocumented aliens to pay in-state-tuition rates at state colleges and universities. The Hartford Courant
Texas A judge issued a temporary restraining order to block the renter’s ordinance in Farmers Branch, Texas. “FARMERS BRANCH — The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Foundation of Texas won a request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) today to block implementation of an anti-immigrant ordinance in Farmers Branch. The ordinance was initially adopted by the Farmers Branch City Council in January and was recently approved by Farmers Branch residents in a vote on Saturday, May 12. The TRO blocks the ordinance from going into effect tomorrow as scheduled.” Pegasus News
The Daily News
5/21/07
National According to The New York Times, Senate Democrats and Republicans announced a deal Thursday on a comprehensive immigration reform bill that if passed would provide legal status to most of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Illegal aliens could apply for residency after waiting 8 years, paying a $5,000 fine, learning English, and passing a criminal background check. There would be a new Y visa created for guest workers who would be permitted to stay in the U.S. for 6 years if they returned to their homeland every 2 years. In addition, the bill would provide for enhanced border security with 50% more Border Patrol agents and increased fencing, stricter employment verification of workers, and a merit based immigration system instead of a family based one. The bill would also target businesses who hire illegal aliens with stiffer penalties. With broad support from the left and the right, the bill stands some chance of passing; yet there are obstacles to overcome. Conservatives have already started crying foul saying this amounts to amnesty. On the left, John Sweeny, president of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., criticized the guest worker component of the bill saying that it will create a pool of cheap labor that will depress wages. Hispanic groups are worried that the merit based visa system would make it more difficult to bring family members into the United States, and Speaker Pelosi has expressed serious concerns about the compromise as well as Senate majority leader Reid. Another problem with the bill is that many if not most illegal immigrants will be afraid to come forward and return to their home countries. Who will guarantee that they can get back into the United States? Poor working families may not be able to pay the fines and fees required by this bill. The New York Times
Michigan As part of a nationwide trend in agriculture, farmers in Michigan are complaining about a severe labor shortage. The Muskegon Chronicle reports, “Farmers in West Michigan are being forced to destroy thousands of dollars in asparagus crops this spring because there's nobody to pick them. Local growers worry it's an indication of what could become a yearlong migrant worker shortage that could put some of them out of business and cause grocery prices to skyrocket.” Immigration reform is a must to provide the United States with necessary labor in agriculture. The Muskegon Chronicle
Texas ICE
raid two Amherst dairy farms Wednesday morning and arrested approximately 24 illegal
aliens. News Channel 11, Lubbock,
KCBD
The Daily News
5/17/07
National Senators Lieberman and Hagel have introduced the Skilled Worker and Immigration and Fairness Act of 2007. “’To remain competitive, American companies need access to highly educated individuals,’ Lieberman said. ‘But today’s system makes it difficult for innovative employers to recruit and retain highly educated talent, which puts the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage globally.’” Highly educated and skilled foreigners are desperately needed. In Connecticut, 56% of those who receive a master’s degree in engineering are foreign and 65% of those receiving a Ph.D. in engineering are foreign as well. This bill would increase the number of H-1B visas, which are for educated and skilled foreign nationals, from 65,000 to 115,000 a year. It would allow flexibility, depending on market conditions, that could allow the cap to reach 180,000 for a given year. This measure is an important component of the immigration reform process that addresses a vital need of the U.S. economy. Southwest Nebraska News
Five major hotels, including Marriot, have sent letters to President Bush, the Homeland Security Secretary, and leaders in Congress pleading for immigration reform. J.W. Marriot maintains that the hotel cannot operate without foreign workers. “In addition to Marriott, the letter was signed by the heads of the Hilton Hotels Corporation, the InterContinental Hotels Group, the Global Hyatt Corp., Loews Hotels and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc.” In a very significant statement regarding all of the state and local ordinances on immigration, J.W. Marriot said, "We can't manage 150 different laws, and neither can anybody else; we need to have comprehensive reform." Marriot believes that this is what will happen if Congress doesn’t act on immigration reform. It is clear that business needs Congress to act now. The Politico
“As the government intensifies its crackdown on workplace immigration-law violations, only nine firms have joined a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement partnership to help them police their own hiring practices.” Critics worry that those who participate in the Image Program, ICE Mutual Agreement Between Government and Employers, could have information they voluntarily share with the government used to prosecute them. “To get the Image certification -- a designation that can be used in ads and marketing campaigns -- companies must train personnel to detect document fraud, identity theft and other hiring pitfalls. They must set up internal tip lines for employees to report suspected illegal immigrant co-workers. They must also permit Immigration and Customs Enforcement to audit the company's employee work-eligibility records. Companies that meet requirements get a two-year exemption from random audits of employment records by immigration authorities. However, it is not a blanket exemption from prosecution if they violate immigration laws, said Kevin Sibley, an Immigration and Customs division chief for work-site enforcement who heads the six-person Image program.” With the government conducting more immigration raids on businesses, participation in Image could be one more way for business to protect itself from the consequences of unknowingly hiring illegal workers. For more information, see the link below. The Press Enterprise
The Daily News
5/16/07
Texas Voters in Farmers Branch, Texas, a Dallas suburb, approved a controversial immigration ordinance with 68% of the vote on Saturday that will make it illegal for landlords to rent apartments to illegal aliens. The ordinance is now scheduled to go into effect on May 22. The ordinance does provide, however, an exception for families with a mixed residency or citizenship status. The New York Times
National Senate Democrats and Republicans have been working feverishly attempting to reach a compromise on immigration reform before a Wednesday deadline set by Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada. The majority leader wants to open debate and get immigration reform moving. He has indicated that he will resurrect last year’s reform bill if no compromise is reached; however, Senate Republicans may block debate on the old bill which they claim is not strict enough. Everyone seems to agree that the country needs a secure border, a good way to ensure that employers hire only legal workers and some kind of path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal workers in the U.S. boston.com
President Bush called for bipartisan cooperation on immigration reform in his weekly radio address Saturday. It is evident that this problem is not going to disappear if Congress fails to act this year. There is more and more support for immigration reform among Hispanic voters, business, and farmers. Conversely, social conservatives are taking to the air on talk radio, and there anti amnesty ire is up.
In a related story, a group of over 100 business leaders in Arizona is starting an ad campaign to support a guest worker program. Carla Brandt, who owns a stucco business with 50 employees, is featured in one advertisement. She says that she is unable to find enough employees to get her business to grow. She has tried running ads and raising wages, but nothing has helped. She is turning down business right and left. This is a message that many in business want to make sure that the U.S. Congress hears loudly and clearly. The Tucson Citizen
More National News Senator Norm Coleman plans to introduce legislation that would bar cities from instructing police officers not to inquire about an individual’s immigration status. The bill would tell federal, state, and local governments that they cannot keep their police officers from looking into immigration status. My Fox, Twin Cities
Tennessee A bill that is scheduled to be debated in the State Senate on Monday, SB 0202, would impose a fine of $10,000 on any business that knowingly hires an illegal alien. Attorney General Bob Cooper thinks that this bill may infringe on federal law and is probably unenforceable. “Cooper's opinion, which was released Friday, cites a federal law that explicitly states federal immigration law ‘pre-empts any state or local law imposing civil or criminal sanctions’ on those who recruit or hire illegal immigrants.” Another bill “that prohibits transportation of illegal immigrants into Tennessee for profit is awaiting the signature of Gov. Phil Bredesen.” Violators could face a fine of $1,000 for each illegal alien transported. The Tennessean
Oregon “New federal rules that require Oregon to verify the identity and citizenship of individuals applying for Medicaid-funded programs have barred over 1,000 Oregonians, mostly children and citizens, from getting health care, a new report by the Department of Human Services finds.” More and more Americans are finding it hard to comply with the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 which among other things requires people soliciting federal benefits to prove their identity and citizenship (residency) using a list of documents. When and if the Real ID Law goes into effect, we may found thousands of Americans unable to prove that they are citizens such as the homeless or mentally ill. Salem-News.com
The Daily News
5/15/07
National The Washington Post reports that immigration reform is in peril. The Senate majority leader plans to force debate on the issue starting Tuesday; yet, up to this point Republicans and Democrats have been unable to iron out differences. The Republicans are trying to get a bill that will appease hard-liners who oppose amnesty. It appears that both sides may be looking to blame the other for the demise of immigration reform legislation. The Washington Post
Arkansas ICE agents arrested 12 illegal immigrants that were working for two contractors at Camp Joseph T. Robinson Army National Guard Base on Thursday. ICE said the majority of them used false social security and alien registration numbers to obtain employment. An ICE spokesperson reiterated that it is important to protect America’s infrastructure and military facilities. Today’s THV
Florida Deputies and investigators for the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Panama City Police Department arrived at the Tropical Winds Condominium construction site on Tuesday and arrested 6 illegal aliens. The six men presented social security numbers that were either invalid or belonged to someone else. More and more local authorities intend to enforce immigration law. EmeraldCoast.com
Alabama The
State House Judiciary Committee is considering legislation that would require illegal
immigrants to forfeit property acquired after breaking immigration laws. An
exception would be made for basic necessities. The Montgomery Advertiser
A committee in the Alabama House is considering legislation that would allow the state to impound a vehicle of someone who stopped for a traffic violation and cannot prove that he or she is in the country legally. Another immigration measure being considered would require people applying for state benefits to demonstrate that they are in the country legally, and another measure would increase fines for businesses who hire illegal aliens. The Decatur Daily
Ohio “Gregory Lockhart, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, recently announced the sentencing of Maximino Garcia, president and co-owner of two temporary labor service companies, for his role in a conspiracy that provided hundreds of illegal aliens to work at a national air cargo firm in Wilmington, Ohio. Garcia was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release; fined $25,000; and ordered to forfeit $12 million representing the proceeds of the crime.” HR.BLR.com
Texas Voters in Farmers Branch, Texas, will decide whether or not a contentious immigration ordinance that prohibits landlords from renting to illegal aliens will go into effect.
The Daily News
5/14/07
Michigan Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided VerHaar CAFO dairy farm on Tuesday and arrested 13 illegal immigrants. The Huron Daily Tribune
The city of Detroit passed an immigration ordinance on Wednesday. “The City Council voted 9-0 today to pass a new ordinance that bans profiling people based on race, immigration status, ethnicity, dress and appearance, among other factors. It was developed after talks with local Latino, Arab and Muslim groups, who say that immigrants are sometimes asked for their residency papers after being pulled over by police.” The Detroit Free Press
National The Washington Post reports that Republican Senate leadership aides privately said that the immigration reform bill is “on life support.” The rift between the Republicans and the Democrats is deep and growing deeper. It appears increasingly certain that immigration reform is not going to come out of Washington this year or in 2008. The Washington Post
Virginia Virginia State Police caught fourteen illegal immigrants in a routine traffic stop in Virginia Beach on Monday. The men were in a van owned by North Carolina based Ivy H. Smith Company, which was performing contract work for Verizon Wireless. Once again the question arises: should a company be responsible for the immigration status of employees working for subcontractors? The Daily Press
Texas The mayor of Farmer’s Branch urged voters to reject an immigration ordinance that would require landlords check new tenants or those renewing leases to make sure that they are a resident, a citizen, or legally in the United States. Police are investigating an incident where someone shattered a window with a rock at the mayor’s residence. The Dallas Morning News
California Watsonville passed an immigration ordinance declaring itself to be a sanctuary
city. The city council voted to order the police not cooperate with federal
immigration officials. Local police will not assist federal authorities in arresting
illegals. KSBW 8, NBC
The Daily News
5/11/07
National The Houston Chronicle reports that a behind scenes deal on immigration reform would put securing the nation’s borders first. Many members of congress believe that you cannot reform something if you don’t fix fundamental problems first. Reaching an agreement between Republicans and Democrats involves Democrats appealing to their political base that wants to see a path to citizenship for millions of illegal aliens and Republicans who wish to appease those in their ranks who want to get tough on illegal immigration. Apparently politicians in both parties wish that this contentious issue would go away. No matter how one votes, it may emerge to haunt one at election time.The Houston Chronicle
The United States Senate is expected to debate immigration reform next week. As President Bush’s handpicked leader of the Republican Party, Senator Mel Martinez has been working feverishly to deliver an immigration reform bill. “Since becoming chairman, he has been working behind the scenes with the administration and congressional leaders from both parties on a compromise, his aides said. The latest White House plan would delay the process of giving illegal immigrants their papers and granting guest worker visas to new arrivals while the administration beefs up border security.”The White House has invested heavily on this issue conducting almost daily meetings with members of congress. The Ledger
According to Senator Specter, an immigration deal is near. For more details read this article, link below, in the Hill. The Hill
According to the New York Times, key
senators said that they have agreed on the outlines of a bipartisan immigration reform
bill that would toughen border enforcement and provide a path to legal status for millions
of undocumented immigrants. However, the Times reports that senators remain
deeply divided on details and unlikely to reach a deal by the deadline imposed by Senator
Reid. “Senator Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, said negotiators had
reached what they called a ‘grand bargain.’ It includes a series of triggers,
Mr. Specter said, that require new border security measures to be up and running before
the start of any programs to give legal status to people in the country illegally.”
Essentially there is disagreement about the severity of penalties illegal
immigrants would face, about whether or not guest workers would be on a path to
citizenship, and whether family members of future immigrants could stay in the United
States. It is still unclear if there will be any immigration reform emerging from
Congress this year.The New York Times
Arizona Arizona is joining the ranks of states and localities which are beginning to enforce immigration law. “Twenty-two law enforcement officers from DPS, the Department of Corrections and the Sheriff’s Office are now authorized to enforce federal immigration laws.” KTAR.com, Phoenix
The Daily News
5/10/07
Oklahoma Governor Henry signed HB 1804 Tuesday adding Oklahoma to the ranks of states with their own immigration reform laws. Many describe Oklahoma’s newly passed immigration law as the strictest in the nation. Starting in July of 2008, al state businesses and contractrors will have to use the federal government’s Basic Pilot Program to ensure that an employee’s social security number and date of birth match the government database. Public employers will now have to verify the residency of all new employees. State and local law enforcement must now detain illegal aliens. In addition, the law requires that anyone seeking a state ID prove that he or she is a resident or a citizen. Welfare benefits, including healthcare, will be denied to illegal aliens, except in certain humanitarian situations. The law also makes it a felony to shelter, transport, conceal, or attempt to transport illegal aliens. The McAlester News Capital
The Daily News
5/9/07
Wisconsin The Green Bay City Council is debating an immigration ordinance that would require city license- holders to “conform to federal immigration laws and to promise not to hire undocumented workers.” Violators could lose their licenses. One unresolved issue is enforcement: how could the ordinance be enforced? The Green Bay Press Gazette
National The Baltimore Sun reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid intends to reintroduce last year’s immigration reform bill if the Senate cannot agree on a new proposal. Speaker Pelosi doesn’t want to debate immigration reform in the House unless 60 Republicans support the immigration. Considering all the obstacles facing immigration reform, it appears unlikely that we will see any new legislation pass this year. Next year will be even more unlikely with the approach of the 2008 campaign. The Baltimore Sun
U.S. Representative, Chris Carney, will introduce HR 2086 which will provide federal funding to train local police officers as border agents. Representative Carney wants to encourage local police departments to cooperate with the federal government “in dealing with illegal immigration matters.” The Citizens’ Voice
Georgia A state law that requires all businesses with 500 or more employees who do business with the state to sign an affidavit stating that they verify the immigration status of their employees using the federal government’s Basic Pilot Program is scheduled to go into effect on July 1. The state maintains that this verification process will only take a few seconds in most cases and will not be much of a burden to business. The Rome News Tribune
Tennessee The State House sent a bill to the governor today that will allow the Tennessee Highway Patrol to enforce immigration laws. The bill will allow the state to negotiate with Homeland Security to train officers to enforce immigration law. News Channel 5, Nashville