ST. GEORGE — A citizens group here wants consumers to know whether they're patronizing businesses that hire illegal aliens.

Businesses that can prove they don't hire illegals would earn a "Business Patriot" stamp of approval from the Citizens Council on Illegal Immigration and would be able to advertise that fact to potential customers.

"We are going to target the businesses most flagrant in hiring illegals," said Julian Wright, who chairs the employment subcommittee of the group. A newsletter that includes information on employment law will be e-mailed to businesses such as building contractors, landscapers, restaurants and hotels, he said. How the group plans to identify offending businesses remains to be seen, however.

Rosa Martinez, who publishes a weekly bilingual newspaper in St. George, said she isn't sure how the idea will promote the group's agenda.

"They have the right to do it, but I don't know what good it will bring," she said. "I don't see any positive things coming from it."

Martinez, an active member of Hispanic Unidos, said respecting people of other cultures should be an important element of any discussion on immigration.

"I know there are laws everybody has to obey. I understand their feelings on this," said Martinez, who immigrated to the U.S. from Argentina many years ago. "If people are here, we can't do anything about that until the immigration laws change. In the meantime, people who come here must respect the law, learn the language and love the people and place they live in."

The group outlined its plans in a meeting Thursday. "Business Patriots" would be authorized to use a special logo and award information in their advertising and other communications.

"If you folks know of any businesses, or work with any that would like to be noted for this award, let us know," said Wright to an audience of 30 people.

The group's discussion centered around various social problems allegedly created by immigrants, both illegal and legal.

"A lot of people are coming in here from Third World countries with tuberculosis and tapeworms," said one elderly man in the audience. "They're in there making our salads and there's no health tests. It's a very big safety concern."

Another man's comment that immigrants do farm work that Americans refuse to do drew such rebuttals as "We don't buy that" and "No, that's not true" from others at the meeting.

"We never were able, even in the worst of the Depression, to get Anglos to work in the fields, except for the high school kids," he said. "Anglos will not go out to do stoop labor in the fields."

Phyllis Sears, who chairs the citizens group, disagreed with his assessment of history.