How to help eliminate the incentive for immigrants to enter our country illegally? There are many options, but none more important than creating and enforcing stiff penalties for companies that hire illegal immigrants to work for them. Many businesses knowingly hire illegal aliens in order to acquire cheap labor. In effect they create an undocumented class of workers that can be abused and fear seeking assistance because the workers know that they could face deportation. Plus the illegal immigrants place a burden on our social services, health, and education systems.
Immigration to the USA should only be allowed through documented and legal channels.
Both the Senate and House in South Carolina have passed a bill that will enact strict penalties on companies and individuals who hire illegal aliens. Fines may range up to $10,000 per illegal hire for repeat offenders. Both bodies still must approve the final wording.
Sound good right! Unfortunately, in negotiations, the bill was stripped of the requirement that employers use the federal E-verify system to verify social security numbers and names. S.C. Governor Mark Sanford rightfully criticized the compromise:
“By stripping out the e-verify requirement last night, the Senate has taken out the single most effective part of this immigration reform bill,” Gov. Sanford said. “For anyone who cares about real immigration reform, the time is now for them to email or call their Senator or House member - or better yet show up in person at the State House on Tuesday to tell their elected leaders face-to-face how they feel.”
I applaud Govornor Sanford for the courage on criticizing the elimination of the e-verify requirement. We need more state leaders like Sanford to help reduce the demand for illegal employees. We all have the obligation to notify our elected politicians that they should advocate stiff penalties to any entity that hire illegal immigrants and that verification should be made through the e-verify system.
Read more about the e-verify system on this page at the Department of Homeland Security.
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