From Deseret News archives:
Crackdown set on illegal workers
White House acting in absence of new laws
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said Friday the action was needed in the absence of new laws.
"We're obviously disappointed in the fact, as is the president, that Congress has not chosen to act on our comprehensive solution," Chertoff said, referring to a failed Senate bill that would have provided a pathway to legal status for most of the nation's 12 million undocumented residents and bolster enforcement. "But until Congress chooses to act, we're going to be taking some energetic steps of our own."
The new regulations, which take effect in 30 days, give employers 90 days to either clear up mismatches between names and Social Security numbers when they receive a letter from the Social Security Administration, or fire the employee. They also boost by "about 25 percent" civil fines for employers who don't comply with the law. Enhancements to a federal Internet-based verification program, now called E Verify were also announced.
"Everyone's very anxious," said Paul Schlegel, director of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation in an Associated Press interview. "We're heading into the busiest time of the year for agriculture, so you're going to see a lot of worry from farmers and employers about how you deal with this."
In Utah, Tony Yapias, director of Proyecto Latino de Utah, predicted that "it's going to cause massive layoffs in every sector of our economy. We're going to start seeing the impact."
Saying that as many as 4 percent of the 250 million wage reports filed with the Social Security Administration each year are mismatches, officials described the regulations as "guidelines." Gutierrez added the administration was also working to make the existing worker visa program more workable, especially when it comes to agricultural workers.
Gutierrez said employers have told the government "consistently" that they do not have the tools to enforce the law.
"What we're going to do with our executive branch authority, the president's authority, is to give employers tools to the extent that we can. But this is all about giving them tools that they repeatedly have told us they did not have."
Recent comments
It's about time. Clean our own house.
Jim Schues | Aug. 11, 2007 at 8:54 p.m.
Oh no! The sky is falling for cheap labor employers and illegal...
Fair Wage | Aug. 11, 2007 at 11:50 a.m.
Inquiring minds want to know � are Joe, Chris, and Gordon going to...
American | Aug. 11, 2007 at 10:22 a.m.
- Two American pilots die in Iraq 12:47 a.m.
- Murder suspect is vetran, avid skier 12:47 a.m.
- MLB: Zambrano's mom kidnapped 12:32 a.m.
- Lambert surprisingly tops news 12:25 a.m.
- Philadelphia transit strike ends 12:25 a.m.
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd 12:24 a.m.
- 12 high schools ready for 'The Turf' 12:17 a.m.
- RSL unfazed by conference final 12:17 a.m.
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated 12:17 a.m.
- Today on TV 12:13 a.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
216 - House passes health care bill
201 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
151 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
129 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
101 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89 - BYU cuts Women's Research Institute
88
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
STOP blaming the Democrats, BLAME THE REPUBLICANS FOR 8 YEARS DOING NOTHING...
The best way to break the law is to become someone who enforces the law.
It's a real shame so many folks have never gotten out and gotten to know the...
It's all talk... you do not have any evidence for your claims. You assume...
Maybe if you could bat .408 in the major leagues, you too would be paid a...
I prefer the “Wizard of Earthsea” quartet by Ursula Le Guin, an...
The bottom line question that no one can possibly answer is; what will be the...
It looks to me like special treatment.
Jazz will have a tough week, with what should be a easy win against the...
I am very excited for this game. As much as I want the Utes to win, it won't...

