Thursday
Apr022009
ICE provides work permits for confirmed illegal immigrants
Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 4:20PM
Twenty-eight immigrants who were arrested in Bellingham, WA two months ago for working illegally and using false documentation have been released from custody and 24 of the immigrants have been given work permits in exchange for cooperation in the investigation of their former employer.
Representative Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) described the situation as “a slap in the face for those who are struggling every day to find a job in this economic downturn.”
On Thursday, Marcy M. Forman, Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Investigations, testified before the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security, explaining that due to the ongoing criminal investigation, she was unable to give the committee specifics.
“There is a criminal search warrant being executed by ICE agents in Washington State to further the criminal investigation of this company for the employment of illegal aliens,” Forman said.
The company under question is Yamato Engine Specialists, which allegedly hired the 28 immigrants.
Rogers believes this case indicates a “diversion of attention from prosecuting employers,” he said, and provides a magnet for illegal aliens who need work. “I’m nervous that the department is making a big change of policy here,” he said.
Although released from jail, the immigrants "were released with conditions,” Forman told the committee, adding that they have been told to cooperate in the criminal investigation of their employer. While their release is temporary, all released immigrants must report weekly to an ICE agent and meet with an agent at least twice a month. Each of the immigrants have been screened to ensure they are not a risk to national security.
Representative Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) described the situation as “a slap in the face for those who are struggling every day to find a job in this economic downturn.”
On Thursday, Marcy M. Forman, Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Investigations, testified before the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security, explaining that due to the ongoing criminal investigation, she was unable to give the committee specifics.
“There is a criminal search warrant being executed by ICE agents in Washington State to further the criminal investigation of this company for the employment of illegal aliens,” Forman said.
The company under question is Yamato Engine Specialists, which allegedly hired the 28 immigrants.
Rogers believes this case indicates a “diversion of attention from prosecuting employers,” he said, and provides a magnet for illegal aliens who need work. “I’m nervous that the department is making a big change of policy here,” he said.
Although released from jail, the immigrants "were released with conditions,” Forman told the committee, adding that they have been told to cooperate in the criminal investigation of their employer. While their release is temporary, all released immigrants must report weekly to an ICE agent and meet with an agent at least twice a month. Each of the immigrants have been screened to ensure they are not a risk to national security.
Revamping Employment Verification System Necessary, Says Schumer
The current system used to verify an employee's citizenship status is severely flawed and must be changed or replaced, said Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) during a hearing before the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security. Keeping illegal immigrants from finding work in the U.S. would drastically decrease their presence in the U.S., he said.
E-Verify, the system now in place, relies on a name, date of birth, and social security number in order to determine whether an employee is a legal citizen. An employer checks the information provided by an employee against a government database. As long as an illegal alien can retrieve a legal citizen’s information, either by stealing it or receiving it from a legal friend, he or she can game the system.
In addition, ten percent of all workers that E-Verify claims are illegal aliens are actually legal citizens, said Michael Aytes, Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Schumer called for a system that would be flawless. “The only way the American people will have faith that our comprehensive immigration reform bill will stop illegal workers from obtaining jobs is if we implement an employment verification system that is tough, fair, easy to use, and effective and which relies upon a non-forgeable biometric identifier,” he said.
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) pointed out that some unemployment issues could be solved by replacing employed illegal aliens with actual U.S. citizens. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) was more concerned with the fact that oftentimes illegal aliens are grossly mistreated by corrupt employers.
Gutierrez said, “incorporating an effective employment verification system is our only hope for truly ending illegal immigration. We can do this, and we must do it this year. In the the end, this is not a question of whether or not we can craft an effective system; rather, it is a question of political will.”