Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Is worker ID answer to passing immigration reform?

The worker ID may be the best way to ensure workers are authorized and convince Americans the government can actually stop the flow of illegal immigrants, says a N.Y. Senator.

U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, a Democrat who will lead the effort to write the Senate’s comprehensive reform bill, has called the worker ID card the best way to ensure U.S. workers are in the country legally and therefore stop the flow of illegal immigration.

"The ID will make it easy for employers to avoid undocumented workers, which will allow for tough sanctions against employers who break the law, which will lead to no jobs being available for illegal immigrants, which will stop illegal immigration," Schumer wrote in his 2007 book, "Positively American."

The Los Angeles Times reports that Schumer will present the worker ID card idea at a hearing this summer on employee verification systems.

Schumer writes that the ID card will make it easy for employers to avoid undocumented workers and allow tough sanctions against employers who break the law.

While some support his idea, it has raised concerns of “big brother” intrusion among some activists like the American Civil Liberties Union.

"The bottom line is that this would be really expensive, really invasive and people will hate it," Chris Calabrese, counsel for the ACLU's technology and liberty project, told the newspaper.

Others say it would be impossible to ensure millions of employers remain in compliance.

"At the end of the day, if we're going to achieve legalization of a major share of the undocumented, we realize there will have to be some give and take over worker verification," Mike Garcia, president of the Service Employees International Union Local 1877 in Los Angeles said. "We're not against it necessarily if all of the other pieces of immigration reform fall into place."

Photo by Robert Giroux/Getty Images

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to disagree. Counterfeits will be quickly made plus the dangers of the Federal Government requiring "papers" at any time. It would be a large jump toward a totalitarian state.

Anonymous said...

Why not just use E-verify instead of creating yet another expensive government bureaucracy?

Anonymous said...

Counterfeits will be made for sure.

Build a bigger fence.

Anonymous said...

It's better than the mess we have now.

Anonymous said...

Here's the solution to counterfeiting: Anyone found with a counterfeit card gets 10 years in federal prison. Anyone who knowingly hires an illegal alien gets 15 years no parole. All current illegal aliens applying for amnesty must undergo a background check and a medical exam. Anybody who fails is automatically deported, no appeal. If they pass, they are eligible for amnesty but no welfare or aid for dependent children. Any former illegal alien found on welfare gets 10 years in federal prison. That's my idea for immigration reform.

Anonymous said...

I think a worker ID is a step forward. I recall three years ago hiring a company in Houston to do work at a chemical plant. All the workers were illegal. They would work in large columns at companies like Exxon. Several would work under the same social security number.

Then we should deport million. No matter how long they have been here. And stop the anchor baby law. Mary Newsome with the CO, who thinks illegally entering the US and taking American jobs is a "civil-infraction", will be opposed to all enforcement of our laws.

Anonymous said...

Don't we already have a worker 'ID' program with the social security card? Let's enforce existing laws FIRST before adding more layers onto the bureacracy.

Anonymous said...

Chuck Shumer getting tough on illegals? Why am I suspicious? Kinda like the fox guarding the henhouse given that the illegals represent future voters for Shumer and other Democrats.

My guess is that he is trying to look tough while setting up yet another system full of holes that you could drive a van full of illegals right through. Even if his intentions are legitimate (yeah right) then no doubt the price tag he seeks for its enactment is amnesty for the 20+ million illegals that have infested our country.

Workplace enforcement is the key to curtailing the problem, but with Shumer leading the "reform" I don't see the problem being solved anytime soon.

Anonymous said...

""At the end of the day, if we're going to achieve legalization of a major share of the undocumented, we realize there will have to be some give and take over worker verification," Mike Garcia, president of the Service Employees International Union Local 1877 in Los Angeles said. "We're not against it necessarily if all of the other pieces of immigration reform fall into place."

Aha, there's the money quote right there. We'll sign on to virtually anything to get the amnesty. In other words get the amnesty and worry about circumventing the new system for future illegals later. It worked brilliantly in 1986 and will probably work just as well again.

With immigration "reform" the amnesty is always automatic and irrevocable while the enforcement is promised and never delivered upon. Never, never, never, never, never.....accept the amnesty in exchange for whatever these politicians are offering as reform. If Shumer or any other enforcement plan is indeed worthwhile then pass it and proceed -- why does it have to be traded for amnesty?

Defensores de Democracia said...

Franco, Thanks for beautiful blog that I read very often, I get a lot of information here

I am sure that you are a very kind and noble person. Things in your blog are also smart and intelligent. Do not be scared by many dogs barking and baying ......

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Proverbs of the Republicans as Dogs - My two cents contribution to Laughter, Entertainment, Fun and the Ridicule of Republican Fools !

Proverbs of Republicans as Dogs :

The dogs bark because we gallop - Don Quixote to Sancho ( Barack Obama as Don Quixote that was the object of gossip in some Spanish towns )

The envious ( Republicans ) are like the little dogs of the Roman Matrons, they bark to the Emperors and the Victorious Generals of Rome. - Philosopher Seneca. ( Fox News Doggies barking to Obama )

The envious ( Republicans ) are ungrateful, they spit to the Sun ( Obama ) that warms them and lights their path. -- Victor Hugo - French Poet, Playwright and Novelist.

The envious ( Republicans ) destroy the garden of the neighbor, because they are too lazy for having Beautiful Flowers and vegetables in spring or summer - Vicente Duque ( Envious of Poets )

The envious ( Republicans ) are fools because they commit a sin ( Envy ) that gives a lot of pain. The other sins give Great Pleasures. - Miguel de Cervantes

The envious ( Republicans ) are fools because they become enemies of those that can advance their careers ( The Democrats that are going to be in power for 40 years, according to James Carville ) - This is from the English Playwright of "Shakespeare in Love" that is killed in a duel, Christopher Marlowe.

More Doggie Proverbs against Republican Envy and Ill Will :

Milenials.com

Vicente Duque

Anonymous said...

Problem is govt doesn't do their job when illegals use social security numbers that are fake or belong to US citizens. There is NO enforcement. Have you ever heard of the I-9 police?

Anonymous said...

Hey Vicente Duque,

What article did you read??? Maybe you just posted to the wrong comment board?

Anonymous said...

I think Vicente takes a couple of hits off of his bong before every post... either that or he needs to refill his prescription.

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