Minutemen group pushes ballot measure to ban hiring illegal immigrants in Springfield (MO)

[pampango]

http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-story-minutemen-071911,0,2311999.story

As national unemployment hovers at 9 percent, an Ozarks group is trying to curb what it believes is part of the problem. "Having illegal aliens coming in and taking those jobs is a real issue for some people," said Jerry Wilson, spokesman for the Ozarks Minutemen, a group pushing for local immigration reform. "We believe that the United States government has failed the American people in their responsibility to control illegal immigration."...

"It has nothing to do with racism, it has to do with the law of the land," said Wilson.

Under the initiative petition, businesses would be forced to check the immigration status of employees using the federal E-verify database. Currently, Missouri law already requires all entities doing business with the state to use the system.

The City of Springfield could levy fines, and suspend or take away business licenses for places caught hiring those in the country unlawfully. However, the constitutionality of part of the initiative is being called into question. "The suspension of licenses, business licenses is probably fine. But that provision about the finance director issuing fines would probably fail," said City Attorney Dan Wichmer.

[NeedleCast]

1. Isn't it already illegal to hire illegal immigrants?

This seems sort of like bringing a measure to ban speeding on public streets.

[emulatorloo]

3. I'm surprised they didn't include a BAN SHARIA LAW provision

[pampango]

4. Apparently the initiative's goal is to mandate the use of E-verify as an enforcement

mechanism. You're right. It's already illegal to hire them.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. There goes about 25% of Springfield's work force.