Opposition senators hold up signs criticizing the Italian government after the final approval July 2 to a bill that allows unarmed citizen patrols and imposes tough measures aimed at fighting illegal immigration and boosting security on the streets. The legislation calls for jail terms for people who house illegal immigrants and lengthens the amount of time migrants can spend in detention. It has drawn the criticism of center-left politicians and human rights groups. How long before it happens here? (AP Photo/Sandro Pace)
It looks like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce can be renamed the un-American Chamber of Commerce any day now. This after big business filed a lawsuit against a state because the people require punishment for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers.
The chamber’s National Chamber Litigation Center urged the U.S. Supreme Court Friday to take up its case challenging the constitutionality of the employment provisions of a Arizona immigration law. The case is Chamber of Commerce, et al. v. Candelaria, et al.
Arizona requires businesses to comply with the federal E-Verify pilot program to electronically verify employees’ eligibility to work. In its lawsuit, the chamber argues that federal law prohibits states from making E-Verify use mandatory.
The lawsuit has found support, with business, labor and civil rights organizations joining in the litigation. Two other cases challenging similar laws are pending in the Third Circuit and the Tenth Circuit.
Central to the case is who gets to punish companies that hire people not in this country legally, according to the Capitol Media Services.
The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act stops states and cities from imposing civil or criminal penalties on companies because of the businesses hiring practices. But the same law allows states to have their own “licensing or similar laws.”
Based on that, Arizona legislators enacted the Legal Arizona Worker Act. It allows a judge to suspend any licenses of any firm found guilty of knowingly hiring undocumented workers; a second offense within three years puts the company out of business.
“Employers are being overwhelmed by a tidal wave of conflicting state and local immigration laws,” said Robin Conrad, executive vice president of the National Chamber Litigation Center. “At least 150 employment-related immigration bills were proposed in just the first quarter of 2009. The Supreme Court needs to step in and make it clear that it’s up to the federal government to set national immigration policy.”
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, as Arizona governor, signed the state’s employer sanctions statute into law. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled the state statute is legal.
Comments
Throw this suit in the round file along with the foolish lawyers that filed it. The National Chamber of Litigation Center should rethink who they are serving. Is it the citizens of the United States or nationals from every other country of the world? Clearly they have their priorities upside down.
The only power Americans have is the vote and even that is been compromised? As one voice we must pressure our Senators and Representatives, to empower E-Verify as part of the Save Act. 202-224-3121 Our concentrated effort of millions of phone calls, is making these subservient lawmakers to corporate welfare very nervous. They like their jobs, their exceptional health care and the benefits that go with it? Support for the bi-partisan SAVE Act, which will expand E-Verify and protect American Workers! We must focus on the zenith to this major problem-the jobs that attract illegal aliens. It would phase in a requirement for every employer to use the electronic E-Verify system. Remember also that the US chamber of Commerce, the ACLU, the Council of Foreign Relations are not friends of the ordinary American Worker, as they are anti-Sovereignty, Open border and are sustained by corporate grant givers, to destroy any Immigration Enforcement laws.
DEMAND NO AMNESTY! NO FAMILY UNIFICATION
i dont give a damn wat happens, just do something already!!
And after this problem is resolved we all know were gonna look for something else to blame all our problems on.
its the american way! xD
ya know something..ithink the US should send back all the immigrants..dating back from the 1700s..pretty much everyone. haha
i would love to see all the countries debating in chaos about who belongs where...im cracking up just thinking about it.
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