Doris Meissner, who was immigration commissioner under President Bill Clinton [said] members of Congress, particularly Republicans, do not want to antagonize business.To cut down on illegal immigration it is more important to stop the employers than close the borders. Many get here legally but then stay illegally.
"There was hypocrisy," Ms. Meissner said. "On one hand, you say you want enforcement, and then you see it's not so easy to live with the consequences in your own district."
Indeed, the lack of vigorous enforcement against employers who hire illegal workers has been widely viewed as the main reason that 850,000 immigrants cross the border illegally each year. Facing little in the way of penalties, employers feel few qualms about hiring them for meatpacking, construction, agriculture and janitorial work....
The number of federal immigration agents who focus on work-site enforcement plunged to 65 nationwide in 2004, from 240 in 1999, according to the Government Accountability Office. Moreover, the government reduced the number of notices of intent to fine employers who hired illegal immigrants to just 3 in 2004 from 417 in 1999.
Tags: immigration, GOP
1 comment:
Hi! I found your Blog and BlogSearch, I think the dialogue on immigration is very important and must be discussed from all perspectives.
With your insights I would love to have you take a look at a mini-series I wrote last week on the subject and, if you want to, join in the dialogue…
My url is: www.debaterelatepontificate.blogspot.com
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