Employers risk little in hiring illegal labor(but Senate increased fines?

[papau]

http://www.insightnews.com/business.asp?mode=display&articleID=2467

Employers risk little in hiring illegal labor
by Faye Bowers

PHOENIX - It's a topic often lost in the heated battle over whether to add more border patrol agents, build a bigger fence, or deploy the US military along the border with Mexico. But in the end, most analysts agree, the United States can't stem the flow of illegal immigrants until it resolves to do one thing: punish employers who hire them.

Current law provides for sanctions against such employers, and legislation now under consideration in Congress would stiffen employer penalties.

The tougher provisions are not lost on companies here in Arizona, which now has more illegal immigrants crossing its border than any other state and which owes its decades-long growth spurt in part to a huge workforce - at least 12 percent - of undocumented laborers.

But federal enforcement has long been so weak, and employer fines so few and far between, that many here still laugh off the prospect of serious sanctions - though the laughs are a little more nervous now.
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Senate alters bill to increase fines San Bernardino Sun http://sbsun.com/news/ci_3857061


ALSO AT Senate Seeks to Increase Illegal Worker Fines FOX News
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,196738,00.html

Senate alters bill to increase fines
Suzanne Gamboa, Staff Writer

WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Tuesday to fine employers who hire illegal immigrants up to $20,000 for each unauthorized worker, providing teeth to a broad immigration bill before sending it to a final vote later this week.

Employers would have to check Social Security numbers and the immigration status of all new hires within 18 months after money is provided to the Homeland Security Department to expand the electronic system for screening workers.

"This is probably the single most important thing we can do in terms of reducing the inflow of undocumented workers, making sure we can enforce in a systematic way rules governing who gets hired," said Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

The amendment passed 58-40. Opponents said the verification system would take years to implement and complained that workers deemed illegal could still hold onto jobs until their appeals are exhausted.<snip>
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Summary of Bill:

Fines as high as $20,000 for hiring illegal immigrants once the new screening system is in place - repeated violators could be sentenced to prison terms of up to three years.

Require a screening process for all new hires

Employers to check Social Security numbers and the immigration status of all new hires within 18 months after money is provided to the Homeland Security Department to expand the electronic system for screening workers.

Fining employers who do not use the computerized screening system - which would include information from the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and Homeland Security Department. Proposed fines range from $200 to $600.

Senate bill is less aggressive that the House bill which called for fines ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 and requires a screening process for all employees, not just new hires.

Safety net measure protects employers and workers -workers can contest if the system incorrectly labels them as illegal and employers are not accountable if the screening system falters.

[napi21]

1. I read somewhere that the authorities started to go after the employers

the first time a law like this was signed...back in Reagan's time I think, but so many employers contacted their Congressmen complaining that the authorities were told to BACK OFF!

What makes them think that would change NOW?

[papau]

3. Exactly - This is all for show - for the 06 election. n/t

n/t

[FreakinDJ]

4. That is why the DEMs were pushing for tougher sanctions ???

Kennedy voted for it

[papau]

6. You have got to look tough if you want to also include earned citizenship

n/t

[FreakinDJ]

7. I'm mostly opposed to increases in immigration levels

As far as allowing those who are here already to remain here I’m not all that opposed. But increasing current levels of immigration – over and above granting legalization to 11 million that are already here is ridiculous.

Adding H5A and H5B immigration programs (Pres. Bush’s Guest Worker Program) which specifically target American middle class jobs in construction, transportation, manufacturing, and transportation is just another mean spirited assault on the American working class

[FreakinDJ]

2. from the Senate bill

There would be $20,000 fines for hiring illegal immigrants once the new screening system is in place, double the current maximum. Repeated violators could be sentenced to prison terms of up to three years.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,196738,00.html

But yes
2005 Bush admin 3 employers fined
2004 Bush admin 1 employer fined

Down from 500 some thing during 2000 Clinton admin.

[papau]

5. True - if enforced - Meanwhile San Diego Sewers need brick wall?

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-me-drains25may25,1,454431.story

From the Los Angeles Times
An Immigrant Underground
In San Diego, the storm drain system is being used to smuggle illegal crossers, confronting the Border Patrol with a unique challenge.
By Richard Marosi
Times Staff Writer

May 25, 2006

SAN DIEGO — Armando Reyes climbed over the border fence and prepared for the dash into San Diego. But his smuggler instead led him and four other migrants through a patch of reeds to a stinky drainage pipe, and ordered them inside.

The black sludge reached Reyes' chin as he crawled through the shoulder-width tube. Rats scurried by. Terrified of losing his way in the darkness, Reyes reached for the illegal immigrant in front of him and clutched his sneaker.

The stocky 28-year-old from Oaxaca had followed the smuggler into a vast labyrinth of drainage pipes under Otay Mesa, a booming commercial area of San Diego 15 miles southeast of downtown.

The 23-mile network leads to about 500 manholes scattered across about three square miles. From those openings into the bowels of the city, mud-covered migrants crawl out into streets, busy intersections and parking lots, creating a dizzying guessing game for U.S. Border Patrol agents.<snip>