For the first time since 1999, U.S. Department of Homeland Security has considerably raised fines/penalties to employers hiring illegal immigrants to work for them. The act is in response to Congress’ failure at passing immigration related legislation in 2007.
“Congress didn’t give us comprehensive immigration reform, so we’re going to do what we can with the tools that we have, and frankly we’ve made progress and done quite a bit,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
As a result, the increase and date of effect is as follows:
“The increased fines will take effect March 27. The minimum penalty will increase by $100, to $375. The maximum fine for a first-time offender will jump $1,000, to $3,200. And the maximum fine for repeated violations will rise $5,000, to $16,000. Fines are assessed on a per-person basis, so an employer with 10 illegal immigrants on staff would pay 10 fines.”
In a meeting, Chertoff and Atty. Gen. Michael B. Mukasey discussed the need for funds to continue fighting the escalating violence within the border towns. Such funds could and would be generated by targeting a sensitive spot of illegal immigration: illegal employment.
“Given the magnitude of the threat, it is imperative that new resources be added.” Violence from “alien smugglers, drug smugglers, gun smugglers and the like make the border enforcement needs “massive.” Mukasey said.
It just seems like the logical route Homeland Security can take after passing Proposition 187 in 1994, the proposition would have denied health care, education and welfare benefits to illegal immigrants and called upon citizens to report any suspected illegal immigrants. Funding for the futuristic ‘Virtual Fence’ could be another reason for the hefty fine increase. Such a fence would detect illegal crossers within a 10 mile radius of the border and would have the capacity to distinguish between weapons and a water jug. Plans to start building in Texas are under way with no discussions of California… as of yet.
Quotes from Los Angeles Times.
Picture courtesy of The Rocketeer at Flickr
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1 Mahatma Kane Jeeves // Feb 29, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I believe this fining of business owners to be very wrong and oppressive. Our economy is too interlinked with these foreign born workers, many of whom have lived here much of their lives. It is one thing to secure the border better but it behooves us to behave benevolently because that is the right thing to do! Fortunately, all three presidential major contenders seem willing to find more intelligent and humane solutions than previous administrations.
(My own green card has long expired, but please do not tell anybody!)
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