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Barbour OKs illegal-worker bill
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Immigrants rights advocates cry foul, vow they will continue to fight
Leah Rupp • leah.rupp@clarionledger.com • March 18, 2008
Companies in Mississippi soon will be required to use a federal pilot program called eVerify to determine whether potential workers are legal U.S. residents, under a bill Gov. Haley Barbour signed into law Monday.
But shortly after he signed off on Senate Bill 2988, Barbour cautioned that the language needs some alterations, including adding more avenues for companies to check the residency status of new hires.
Key supporters of the legislation say any changes will have to wait until next year though. Immigrants rights advocates say they'll continue to fight the new law they call a racist attempt to drive Hispanics from the state.
Other critics maintain the bill, along with another one Barbour signed Monday enhancing the penalty for home invasions, could be costly as they will bloat the prisons.
"Any employer who knowingly hires an illegal alien should be held accountable," Barbour said.
But, he continued, "I have serious concerns ... the bill could have unintended negative consequences. I urge the Legislature to make the necessary technical changes to ensure this bill will have the intended effect."
Under the legislation, larger companies would be required to begin using the eVerify system first, with compliance deadlines as early as July.
Penalties for the employer could include the cancellation of state or public contracts.
Companies also could be prohibited from bidding on any such contracts for up to three years.
Those convicted of violating the new law could be sentenced to up to five years in prison or fined up to $10,000. The illegal immigrant also would be deported.
State Sen. Michael Watson, one of the principal authors of the bill, said he doesn't think lawmakers can grant Barbour's wishes for changes in the law this session. "Maybe next year," Watson, R-Pascagoula, said.
Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant - who has made cracking down on illegal immigration one of his key issues - agreed, saying in a statement that he would "work in future sessions to address (Barbour's) recommendations."
Changing the law at this point during the session would require suspending the legislative rules to bring up a new bill - which requires a two-thirds vote - then passing it in both chambers.
Immigrants rights advocates fear that the new law could lead to increased racial profiling and hamper economic development.
"The governor basically whines in the statement about all the problems with the eVerify system," said Bill Chandler, of the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance. "Just on the face of that, he shouldn't have signed this bill into law. But he is silent on how racist this bill is, criminalizing people who are working."
The Washington-based Pew Research Center estimates there are up to 50,000 undocumented immigrants living in Mississippi. The Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, however, estimates the number to be 200,000. In 1990, Pew estimates there were about 5,000.
Six other immigration-related bills are expected to die in a House committee today.
Staff writer Natalie Chandler contributed to this report.
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Great Southern CofCC Meets
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The Great Southern CofCC will hold their February meeting on Feb. 28, at 6pm to eat and fellowship and 7pm for the program. The meeting will be held at Bo'Don's Seafood in Jackson. Details call Chairman LE Matthews @ 601-2917711 |
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Great Southern Report (January)
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The GSCofCC held their January meeting at Bo'Don's Seafood in Jackson on January 24. What a good crowd to kick off 2008. The campaign manager of one of the key 3rd District Congressional candidates came to tell the chapter why they should consider his candidate for this office. |
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Ole Miss was stripped of its traditions before now
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December 5, 2007
After reading a letter to the editor concerning the present Ole Miss situation, I just want to add a resounding "Amen!"
First and foremost, David Cutcliffe was a good man and a fine coach. After only one bad year, just tell me who is perfect, Cutcliffe was axed. The rest of the football story is now bad history.
You can most certainly add to all this - the traditions at Ole Miss were stripped by taking away the Rebel Flag, Colonel Reb and any other thing that was held dear by the students. Racial bias is one thing, a terrible tragedy warmed over, but all the things that were stripped from Ole Miss were unnecessary shenanigans. Treating any race wrongly is not right, but mollycoddling any one that may be offended by our traditions is a horse of a different color.
Abraham Lincoln started the civil war using slavery as the reason. Anyone with a computer can look up the bad things that Lincoln said about African Americans. Don't know about others, but I am fed up with the term "politically correct!"
Bill Hutto
Bay Springs
Source: clarionledger.com
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JOIN THE GREAT SOUTHERN CofCC NOW!!! READ BELOW!!!
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Join The Great Southern CofCC. Please call LE Matthews (FREE) at 601-291-7711.
The Great Southern CofCC meets on the 4th Thursday of each month at 6PM to eat and 7pm to meet at Bo'Don's Seafood (Except the months of November & December)Directions: Take I-55 South from Jackson, MS. turn left on Savanna Street and follow the frontage Rd to Bo'Don's. The restaurant is about (1) block South of Savanna Street. Please join us!
SO PLEASE JOIN US!!!! CALL LE MATTHEWS AT: 601-291-7711 MON - FRI 8am-5pm ON WEEKENDS CALL LE AT: 601-845-5373.
JOIN NOW!! JOIN TODAY!! HELP PRESERVE YOUR HERITAGE!!
AGAIN CALL 601-291-7711 --------------------- or 601-845-5373
The CofCC Not only fights for European rights, but also for Confederate Heritage, fights against illegal immigration, Fights against gun control, fights against abortion, fights against gay rights etc... SO JOIN UP!!!
CALL LE MATTHEWS (FREE) 1-601-291-7711 |
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