Bush widens immigration checks

[flashl]

Source: LA Times


Federal contractors must verify workers' legal status, his order says. Millions could eventually be affected.

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration, in an aggressive new effort to keep illegal immigrants out of the workforce, on Monday ordered all companies doing business with the federal government to begin ensuring their employees can legally work in the U.S.

The order will require thousands of firms to use a government system called E-Verify to check workers' Social Security numbers. The system has been voluntary for private firms but mandatory for government agencies.

The policy, which initially applies to new hires, eventually could affect millions of federal contract workers nationwide whose jobs range from serving cafeteria food to launching NASA spacecraft. The step is one of several the administration planned after Congress failed last year to pass an overhaul of immigration laws.

"The federal government should lead by example and not by exhortation," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who has encouraged firms to use E-Verify.

LA Times

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immig10-2008jun10,0,2775632.story

[Xipe Totec]

1. Fastest way to get rid of a stupid rule is to follow it to the letter

lets see what happens when red state pugs start getting asked to prezent zee paperz.

[EFerrari]

2. And when their economies start tanking because they've picked up

their customer base.

[Blaze Diem]

3. Ya, so which of Bush's cronies will PROFIT by the E-Verify System?

Who owns it?

Only reason I can think of why Bush is encouraging this move.

[Retrograde]

4. hasn't this been the law for some time?

At least since the early 90s? At the companies I worked for all new hires had to show either proof of US citizenship or right to work in the US on their first day, and employers were required to keep copies on file. Now, AFAIK, the proofs may have been bogus, but they were still required.

[Bacchus39]

5. I have no problem with this, Federal money for American workers

I know there is the Buy American Act which requires the Feds to purchase American products for the most part. but is there a similar law that requires these products to 1) be made by American citizens 2) and of course in the USA wheterh the company is American or not. (the outsourcing thing)