ShareThisBy CAROLYN LOCHHEAD
San Francisco Chronicle
Monday, August 13, 2007
People clamoring for a crackdown on illegal immigration got their wish with the Bush administration's announcement of sweeping new enforcement measures that will force employers to fire the millions of illegal workers they now employ.
"We strike at that magnet" of jobs, said Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff, announcing a new rule holding employers liable for workers whose Social Security numbers do not match government records. The new rule, announced last week, takes effect in 30 days.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., predicted a "catastrophe" in her state's $32 billion agriculture industry as the new rules become effective with the fall harvest. But the proposal met no opposition from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who issued a statement saying, "Securing our border remains a top priority for the New Direction Congress."
The rule will require employers to fire employees unable to clear up problems with their Social Security numbers 90 days after they have been notified or face sanctions and a fine of at least $2,200 for a first offense. Until now, employers have routinely ignored what are called no-match letters.
"In certain industries and in certain states, there will be a very significant impact on the functioning of businesses or entire sectors," said Deborah Meyers, a senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. "Some employers are going to find themselves having to fire significant portions of their workforces, and I think there will be employees -- some who are authorized and some who are not -- who will find themselves out of a job."
Business groups pointed out that a significant fraction of no-match letters are in error because of name changes and clerical mistakes, and could cause trouble for legal workers. Immigrant rights groups said the rule could drive millions of illegal immigrants who are now paying taxes underground and drive businesses who depend on them to relocate overseas.
The system also has a big loophole that some experts warn could lead to more identity theft. Social Security does not catch numbers that are valid but have been stolen and used by another person, increasing the incentive to steal valid Social Security numbers.
Hiring undocumented workers has been illegal for two decades, but until now, employers were not held liable for fraudulent documents.
"This is going to cause a lot of pain, but that pain I hope will be an impetus for our nation to get realistic and fix our broken immigration system," said Larry Rohlfes, assistant executive director of the California Landscape Contractors Association. "In the meantime, people are going to be hurt."
Rohlfes predicted that many workers would not leave the country but go underground as unlicensed contractors, where they will not pay taxes. "It's going to hurt our remaining workers because the underground economy competes with us and because they have much lower costs," Rohlfes said.
Much will hinge on how effectively the administration enforces the new rules.
"If you look at what ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has been doing, they've been pretty busy," said Karen Maarouf, director of product marketing for Workforce Logic, a Sonoma, Calif., company that sells worker verification software. Maarouf said employers have to report Social Security withholding on all workers, so the new rules will affect everyone.
About 12 million people are estimated to be in the country illegally, and about half a million more have been arriving each year. Illegal immigrants make up about 5 percent of the civilian workforce, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. Most have arrived since 1990.
E-mail Carolyn Lochhead at clochhead(ast)sfchronicle.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com
new immigration rules
This new law will only encourage more identity theft, once the illegal gets a no match letter he will be fired and then go buy a new SS number which was stolen from a citizen and get another job and life goes on! to stop illegal immigration the solution has to come from the Congress! a complete immigration reform, amnesty to those who have lived in the US for more than 10 years and have no criminal record and have abided by the laws of this country and has learned english, then divide the other group giving them temporary worker visa, apply fines and other requirements, absolutely SECURE THE BORDER and have tracking system for those who come legally so they don't overstay their visas! allow new immigrants come as long as employers are doing their best to hire American citizens! this would make more sense than the "half measure" they are trying to implement by trasfering responsability to employers to do their jobs!
Bush's latest Con on Immigration
Bush is lying to America again. Nice rhetoric on enforcment of illegal immigration. The reality is he is doing the least possible.
1. the border agents he so proudly announed? Don't go to the border until December 2009. Bit late don't you think?
2. His id verification system is only for the biggest employers so most illegals will skate through.
4. His Id system does not pick up the document the criminal illegal prefer to steal, an American's SSN. So basically this check is useless.
3. Does Bush set up a system so those industries that have relied heaviest on taxpayer subisidized illegals will - offer the jobs first to Amerians? NOpe. even though in blogs, day after day there are Americans saying they lost their jobs to cheaper illegals and want them back.
4. Does Bush set up a system where LEGAL immigrants ( what a concpt) get to take the jobs that still need filling. Nope. He wants a crash and burn.
Bush wants lots and lots of more visas so Americans lose even more jobs to cheap foreign labor. He wants a temporary worker program expaned - note he will give them citizenship so how it is temporar?
MOST OF ALL BUSH WANT TO PUSH HIS NORTH AMERICAN UNION, which appeqrs to be an illegal treaty giving up USA soverignty, and requiring totlly open borders by 2010. Google it. It will scare you to deat. Kiss democracy goodbye at the same time if these articles are accurate. We will be governed by a 3 man junta, one man from each country. Bush is arrogant enough and stupid enough to do it.. and claim, he does not have to get Congress' approval.
Illegal Workers
Finally, and end to anarchy.
No, matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on issues. We all need to remember what it is to be an American Citizen. We need to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep their Oath of Allegiance.
See http://www.inteliOrg.com/un_american.html. Know whom you are voting for.