The Justice Department is suing to stop the new Arizona immigration law. Politicians and pundits are debating border protection, amnesty, and other immigration issues with increased ferocity. Very little is mentioned about those that employ illegal immigrants.
Conservatives want the federal government to finish the three-story wall along the US-Mexican border, some of the most challenging terrain in the country. Comedian Lewis Black isn’t sure. “People want to build a 700-mile wall on the Mexican border,” Black said. “These people can’t build a levee in New Orleans; how are they going to pull that off?”
Mexican citizens are risking their lives and liberties by illegally entering the United States to find jobs. Rather than build a border or change the Bill of Rights, why not more strictly prosecute illegal employers. The Arizona bill only brushes on the issue. If it became a felony to hire an illegal immigrant, illegal job offers become a higher risk. Rather than place 1,800 to 3,600 military personnel on the border, engage 600 to 1,200 more immigration officers to focus on employers. Make sure the rules are clear. Force everyone to prove they used the Federal e-verify service on all social security numbers. Provide a grace period for employers to prove employees are legal or to release them. After the grace period, begin prosecution. After a few televised perp walks by illegal employers, the illegal jobs will dry up in addition to the immigration.
I am a big supporter of comprehensive immigration reform that deals with security and the 11 million-plua existing illegal immigrants. Let’s focus on employers that lower their costs and avoid taxes through illegal hiring. Sure, we need some short-term licenses for agriculture harvesting. Put a lid on the rest.
There should be sympathy for immigrants and Arizona residents. Lewis Black is right about the wall. Let’s focus on the employers and work on a broader and fairer law.
