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The Macomb Daily Serving Macomb County. County should require businesses to screen illegal immigrant hires
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Opinion
County should require businesses to screen illegal immigrant hires
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Illegal immigration is a hot political issue that just won't cool off.
It's a controversy that shouldn't be that controversial. Illegal immigration is just that — illegal.
The problem has been made a racial and culture issue. But in this day and age, when America is under the constant threat of terrorist attacks, it's just plain suicide not to get this under control. And, we might add, we're not saying that all immigrants are terrorists. But some could be.
And one elected official in neighboring Oakland County has a proposal that is at least worth discussions here in Macomb County.
Oakland County Commissioner Jim Runestad, a Waterford Township Republican, wants his county to require businesses to use a federal program called "e-verify" for obtaining county contracts. The program is a free service implemented in 1997. It provides a comprehensive check of the employment documents of all potential new hires. E-verify reportedly is fast, convenient and 99.6 percent accurate. It is already required of all federal agencies and in 12 states.
However, the General Government Committee for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners has put off a vote on Runestad's resolution until July 20.
As Runestad recently noted, Oakland County businesses are suffering. Contributing to the problem is the fact many companies are struggling to compete on an uneven playing field because some unscrupulous competitors dramatically undercut their operating costs by using illegal aliens in their labor force.
The employees are often paid under the table or through dummy "front" operations. Sometimes these unethical contractors hire people who complete I-9 forms using resident alien or Social Security cards that any prudent employer would suspect were forged.
We agree with Runestad when he writes "... it isn't just our legitimate businesses that are pulverized by this scam. It's all our lawful, Oakland County taxpaying residents."
A large number of these illegal employees — we don't know how many — reportedly don't even pretend to pay income taxes. Many simply claim numerous dependents on W-4s to minimize (or even eliminate) withholding, and then fail to file tax returns.
Meanwhile, the illegal workers use all the services the tax money they fail to pay provides to everyone — from schools and hospitals to the criminal justice system.
We are all for immigration. America was founded by immigrants.
Immigration is not the problem. Illegal immigration is.
The outcome of Runestad's proposal in Oakland County is uncertain. In the meantime, however, Macomb County officials would be wise to consider similar guidelines.
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