New bill would make hiring illegals a state felony (TX)

[The Straight Story]

Criminal penalties for hiring illegals
New bill would make hiring a state felony

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A new bill seeks criminal penalties for hiring illegal aliens.

House Bill 1202, filed Wednesday by Representative Debbie Riddle (R-District 150) would make it a state jail felony to hire a person who is not legally permitted to be in the country.

"Employers who reward and incentivize this illegal behavior are the primary culprit in the illegal immigration problem," Riddle said in a statement. "Now they're going to have to think hard about whether or not it's worth the risk to them and their business when they make these hiring decisions."

Governor Perry in Tuesdays State of the State speech addressed this issue, asking for the establishment of criminal penalties for employers who hire illegal aliens.

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/politics/state_politics/criminal-penalties-for-hiring-illegals

[Canuckistanian]

1. Not a chance

This would have solved the problem DECADES ago. But corporate and small businesses DEPEND on that cheap labor.

The bill will be firmly but quietly killed.

[polmaven]

2. Wow!

Governor Perry actually doing something the way it should be done, even though it "regulates" business? Imagine that!

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Texas is a border state. The number of "illegal" employees must be significant.

1) You couldn't go after the volume of employers who hire illegal employees.

2) Even if these employers were convicted, it would have a negative impact on commerce and business, beyond the borders of the state.

The bill is pure posturing IMO. It won't pass.

[w8liftinglady]

4. pardon me while I say "Oh,Bullshit"

How do you think the majority of factories,livestock yards, service companies, construction operate in Texas ?

May happen on paper so the politicos look good... never happen in action.
I'll bet my next paycheck on that one.

[dddem]

6. You may be right,

but I for one am sick and tired of 100% of the blame and responsibility falling on poor folks who make under the minimum wage with no benefits while their bosses increase profits at the expense of these people. It's about time the responsibility shifts to those who are actually responsible for this situation-and that includes us. 10 years ago I never asked why the guy who refinished my floors could do it for so much less than his competition - I only cared that I was saving a few bucks. Shame on me. It won't happen again.
Peace.

[w8liftinglady]

7. trust me. I agree 100% . I take care of the victims

Texas leads the nation in uninsured. I take care of all the ones who slipped through the cracks.
Using undocumented workers enabled employers to drop benefits for ALL workers in Texas.
it won't change soon(I've seen it in action over the last 30 years or so)

[thotzRthingz]

5. i've no problem at all with such an approach... the problem i have is

...just how is any employer supposed to know/verify, with absolute certainty, that they are hiring an illegal immigrant?

solve that one... across the nation... with absolute certainty... and the problem of "illegal entry to obtain work in the U.S." is resolved!

edited to add:

problem is, "work" is not the only reason that a significant number of people come to the U.S. (legally or illegally)... think about that

[n2doc]

9. E-verify

Not perfect, but a good start. Make employers use the system.

[creon]

8. the law means nothing

The law, if passed, will do nothing.

The law will not be obeyed; the law will not be enforced.

[FreakinDJ]

10. At least the law will change the debate over illegals aliens / undocumented workers

I for 1 certainly don't like the political correct terminology "Undocumented Worker". It undermines the fact they are here illegally - displacing American workers and REDUCING the living standards of all Americans.

If Government is not willing or able to ensure and increase the Living Standards of it's Citizens then it needs to be dismembered and cast out

[Loki]

11. Well now watch the service industry dry up.

Every restaurant, hotel, construction company, lawn service ...well almost every business in Houston will go belly up in 6 months. No one will come in and work the same hours and under the same conditions and for the same wages as the Hispanic worker. Can't wait to see the fireworks over this rank stupidity by gov. goodhair.

[rucky]

15. They might have to *gulp* pay a living wage to stay in business.

the horror!

[Erose999]

12. I can see something like this passing because its probably just for show. It will not be enforced

or prosecuted. We already have enough laws on the books concerning illegal immigration. The problem is the laws are not being enforced, because the enforcement is being blocked by the lobbies that depend on cheap labor.

[The Straight Story]

13. I think it will be - but only when they want to punish someone they don't like

Great way for more corruption - don't enforce, ignore, get a little 'protection' cash and political favors.

[barbiegeek]

14. Iowa past this law years ago. 10 yr prision to corporations &

up to a million dollar fine. It was signed by a Democratic governor.

They went after Big Ag Corporations using slave labor.

[pampango]

16. New bill targets employers who hire illegal immigrants

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/new-bill-targets-employers-who-hire-illegal-immigrants-1244256.html

One of the Texas House's most prolific writers of anti-illegal immigration legislation filed her fifth related bill Wednesday. This one targets employers who hire undocumented workers. The one-page bill is one of about 50 measures that have been filed in the state House and Senate that seek to curb illegal immigration.

House Bill 1202 drew quick criticism from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Luis Figueroa, a staff attorney for MALDEF, said Riddle's bill asks too much of law enforcement and could prove to be problematic for people in the country legally. "Immigration law is extremely complicated," Figueroa said. "It is very similar to asking a police officer to enforce the IRS tax code."

Local prosecutors also would decide whom they'd prosecute. It could be a corporation, a CEO or whomever the prosecutor feels is culpable, English said.

He added that the exemption for people who hire workers at single-family homes shows that Riddle is going after big employers, not individuals who might hire an undocumented person to work around the house.

[Saphire]

17. Here's how it works...they don't "hire" illegals, they "sub-contract"

the work out to ABC Company. Whether the owner of ABC is here legally or not isn't their problem. They're in the clear.

[southmost]

18. bingo!

and the blame will be passed and no employer will claim responsibility

[dkofos]

19. If it does pass, it won't be enforced.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

20. An acquaintance told me that his grandson wanted to go to France and just work for a year

He didn't think to apply for a work visa before leaving, so no one would hire him for anything that wasn't slightly or entirely criminal because of their strict laws against EMPLOYERS there.

All he was able to get was working for room and board, no money, on a farm.

(Something to think about for those of you who blithely talk about "moving to Europe." You can do that only under certain restricted circumstances, unfortunately.)