In The Mississippi Business Journal this week there is an article about four influential groups in Mississippi opposing an immigration enforcement bill because of unanswered questions about how it would affect police agencies and local government.
Republican Gov.Phil Bryant was elected with the help of tea party groups that say immigration enforcement is a priority.
Immigration enforcement should be a priority, not new laws.
But we have a new law on the way. The bill has passed the House and faces a deadline next Tuesday for consideration in a Senate committee.
The thing is, we already have a law in place…
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) legally mandates that U.S. employers verify the employment eligibility status of newly-hired employees. IRCA made it unlawful for employers to knowingly hire or continue to employ unauthorized workers. In response to the law, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), now an integrated component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), created Form I-9 and mandated its accurate and timely completion by all U.S. employers and their employees.
U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services
After reading the description above, do you think we need a new law?
Would we have such an illegal immigration problem if the law we have in place was enforced?
Why come here looking for work if you can’t be hired? Is it really so complicated?
Maybe our lawmakers need to make it look like they are getting something done. Maybe they could work on enforcement of the law we already have and force employers to comply, or penalize them.
It may be that the penalties need to be stiffer, after all only those breaking the law will suffer the consequences.
You can see the I-9 Employee Verification Form at U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services.
It seems like the Federal Government and our local lawmakers are trying to get a new bill passed into law every time you read the news. When will there be enough laws?
When everything is potentially illegal, then the lawmakers will be in complete control.
