The Washington Times reports that the Department of Homeland Security has allowed thousands of employers to hire millions of illegal aliens because of a lack of funding, manpower and commitment to solve the problem:
In 2004, ICE [Customs and Immigration Enforcement] issued three notices of intent to seek fines against employers for knowingly hiring illegals -- compared with more than 400 by the now-defunct U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in 1999, Richard M. Stana, director of homeland security and justice issues at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), told the subcommittee.
Carl W. Hampe, the Justice Department's former top legal representative in immigration litigation, said ICE has not actively sought to bring cases or level fines against employers who knowingly hire illegals:
"Despite strong bipartisan support for employer sanctions, no attention is being paid by ICE to workplace enforcement," Mr. Hampe told the House Judiciary subcommittee on immigration, border security and claims. "Clearly this sends a message that if you can get into the United States, you can find a job."
Mr. Hampe, who negotiated and drafted the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and the Immigration Act of 1990, both of which called for stronger work-site enforcement, described the "low level" of employer sanctions by ICE as "inappropriate," adding that "it must be reversed."
One cannot expect the support necessary to accomplish serious immigration reform when so little effort is being expended towards enforcing the results of previous immigration reform.
Comments