Countdown begins on illegal immigrant crackdown

In 30 days, a federal effort will target employers who hire workers whose information can't be verified. But workplaces will get help, too.

By Jean Hopfensperger, Star Tribune

Last update: August 10, 2007 - 8:25 PM

The federal crackdown on employers who hire illegal immigrants will begin in 30 days, the Department of Homeland Security announced Friday. But employers will get new tools to detect illegal workers.

The announcement was greeted with gratitude and concern by state business and union representatives.

Under the rule change, employers face fines if they fail within 90 days to fire workers whose Social Security numbers can't be verified -- a $2,200 fine for the first offense alone.

"We're going to continue to clamp down on employers who knowingly and willfully violate the laws," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said at a news conference in Washington. "But at the same time, we want to make sure that employers who do want to do the right thing have effective tools and clear guidance so they can maintain a stable, legal workforce."

Chertoff announced an improved "E-Verify" system for employers to check electronically whether job applicants' names and Social Security numbers match those on government records. The database will eventually include photographs from green cards and other government documents, department staff members said.

"I've seen this system work," Chertoff said. "It's quick and easy to use. More than 19,000 employers across the country rely on it. It has no charge, and it's available in all the states."

Minnesota business leaders in industries that rely on immigrant workers -- such as hospitality and agriculture -- said they were pleased to have new tools to verify a job applicant's employment status, but they worried about the speed with which such a major change is happening.

"Thirty days for this to be effective is fast," said Daryn McBeth, executive director of the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, a lobbying group for more than 200 agricultural businesses and farms. "It's the peak season for sweet corn in Minnesota and for green peas, too. But the magnitude of this change is not just about seasonal workers in Minnesota. It's beyond that."

Predictions of chaos

Javier Morillo-Alicea, president of the Service Employees International Union Local 26, predicted that the new rules will create havoc for workers and employers.

"This is what will happen," he said. "They'll send out thousands and thousands of 'no-match' letters. Industries that depend on undocumented labor will fire thousands of workers across the country. Then the people will get new papers and get other jobs -- perhaps at the place they used to work, until the next round of letters come. It's going to be utter chaos."

Chertoff responded to similar charges, saying: "The only havoc that will be created will be to the extent that people are employing illegals."

Morillo-Alicea and McBeth argued that government officials should be figuring out how to help employers legally bring in needed employees, instead of enforcing an immigration system that most people acknowledge is broken.

However, Chertoff said these were the only types of measures that could be taken because Congress failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

He said the government would begin sending out about 15,000 no-match letters a week, starting in 30 days.

Jean Hopfensperger • 612-673-4511 • hopfen@startribune.com

Recent Local + Metro stories

California investigates whether churches were cheated by leasing companies - August 10, 2007

California investigates whether churches were cheated by leasing companies - California is investigating several companies suspected of bilking churches nationwide of hundreds of thousands of dollars through fraudulent computer leasing schemes, authorities said Friday. More