Worksite Enforcement is Critical to Our Nation’s Safety and Security
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman Elect of the House Committee on Homeland Security issued the following statement applauding today’s action by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in executing civil search warrants at six facilities owned by Swift & Company as part of a worksite enforcement investigation that has identified a large number of unauthorized workers, many of whom engaged in identity theft that has victimized large numbers of U.S. citizens and lawful residents.
“Today’s action by ICE sends a clear message to businesses and employees across the nation that worksite enforcement and hiring only authorized workers is critical to our nation’s safety and security.
“As I have stated time and again, it is the duty of employers to ensure that they are following the letter of the law and only employing people who have a legal right to be here. Those who don’t will be penalized, Thompson added.”
Chairman Elect Thompson has been a constant supporter of stronger penalties for businesses who knowingly hire unauthorized workers. In December, he voted for Rep. Charles Gonzalez’s Amendment to H.R. 4437, the “Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005” which would have increased the penalty to $50,000, regardless of the number of offenses.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please contact Dena Graziano or Todd Levett at (202) 226-2616.
