States Step In

When the federal government is failing to do so. At least 30 states have begun cracking down on illegal immigration, many by going after the employers who knowingly hire illegals.

"The trends … have leaned toward the punitive side," says Ann Morse, an immigration expert at the National Conference of State Legislatures. "The No. 1 topic has been employment in terms of deterring employers and employees."

Examples:

• A Colorado law enacted in June prohibits awarding state contracts to businesses that knowingly employ illegal immigrants.

• A Louisiana law approved in June subjects businesses that have state contracts and more than 10 employees to fines if they don't fire workers known to be undocumented.

• A Georgia bill enacted in April has a phased-in requirement that public employers and government contractors and subcontractors verify information on newly hired workers through a federal program.

The U.S. Senate and House have passed widely divergent immigration bills. The Senate's legislation would put most undocumented immigrants on a path to citizenship. The House bill would make illegal immigrants felons and increase penalties for hiring them.

Some lawmakers and advocates of stricter immigration enforcement say the flurry of legislation reflects states' mounting frustration with federal officials.

"State and local politicians and the grass-roots in those states are up in arms over Washington's conspicuous lack of leadership," says John Keeley, spokesman for the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors tighter controls on immigration. "Immigration … is a driving factor for the three biggest budget items states face: education, health care and criminal justice."

Again, in light of reports that low-skilled jobs are lagging in compensation, why are we tolerating an unchecked influx of unskilled labor? The glut of unskilled workers is creating increasing downward pressure on wages for our most vulnerable citizen workers. Does this make any sense to you? This particular comment by an "advocate" also ticks me off:

States' focus on workers' documentation is unfair, says Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, a civil rights group. "It feels like we're back to the days when it's OK to discriminate against minorities," he says.

This is not about minorities, Wilkes knows that but tries to "reframe" the issue. This is about illegal immigrants, not the race, creed, color or origin of the illegal immigrants. It is also most assuredly not unfair to insist we ensure workers are here legally. It's unfair to citizens and legal residents if we don't.