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Feds file another lawsuit against Arizona over requiring "green cards" for jobs

In an effort to undermine Arizona’s illegal immigration laws once again President Obama’s Administration through the Justice Department filed a suit against the state’s practice of asking for green cards before they hire immigrants for jobs.


The Justice Department claims that a network of community colleges acted in an illegal manner by requiring noncitizens to provide their green cards before they could begin their employment.
The lawsuit against the Phoenix metro area Maricopa Community Colleges slams the state with yet another distraction while Governor Jan Brewer runs for reelection and tries to get the economy turned around for its residents.


The Justice Department is also investigating America’s toughest Sheriff; Joe Arpaio who has continued his campaign against illegal immigration raids after a refined SB1070 became Arizona law.


According to The Washington Post, the newest lawsuit finds, Justice Officials accused Arizona community colleges discriminated against nearly 250 noncitizen job applicants by mandating that they fill out more documents than required by law to prove their eligibility to work. The Department said this violated the federal Immigration and Nationality Act.


The law's anti-discrimination provisions "makes it unlawful to treat authorized workers differently during the hiring process based on their citizenship status," said Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for Justice's Civil Rights Division. He said the government "is acting now to remedy this pattern or practice of discrimination."


The I-9 Immigration form itself recites that "It is illegal to discriminate against any individual (other than an alien not authorized to work in the United States) in hiring, discharging, etc."


A review of the combination of documents from which the employee may choose places the employer in a clear paradox, since none of the documents in the allowed combination prove the employee's right to work in the United States, but the employer is required to attest "that to the best of my knowledge the employee is authorized to work in the United States," says one legal expert.


The mystery of the employee's right to work in the United States could be resolved simply and easily by having the employee present the "green card" which establishes the right of the employee to work or not in the United States.


Currently employers are subjected to fines and imprisonment for hiring employees who are not authorized to work in the United States (ICE raids), but their options to verify the legal status of the prospective employee is hindered by a "smoke and mirrors" instruction that elicits responsibility but withholds the means.


The Federal government has been operating the "E-Verify" system for some time, which provides a quick determination of the prospective employee's right to work in the United States.


"Through E-Verify, U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States – either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization.”


This diverse workforce can contribute to the vibrancy and strength of our economy, but that same strength also attracts unauthorized employment by not having a universal worker identification number.


The newest lawsuit in Arizona was filed on behalf of Zainul Singaporewalla, a U.S. permanent resident who was offered a math teaching job at the Glendale Community College, but was asked to fill out another form with current immigration status, the lawsuit explained.


That special form required more documents and a copy of a green card. When the potential employee couldn't find the green card, the suit said, the college would not let Singaporewalla work.


The federal government is asking the judge within the Justice Department unit to make the Maricopa colleges to pay a civil penalty of $1,100 for each of the 247 non-U.S.-citizen job applicants it says were requested to provide additional paperwork.


The Maricopa Community Colleges staff declined to comment on the new lawsuit.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/california-governor-hopeful-nightingale-will-embark-on-a-walk-about-of-sorts

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San Diego County Political Buzz Examiner

Kimberly Dvorak is a freelance writer who resides in San Diego. She has covered local, national and international news stories for more than 15...

Comments

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    I would hope that the Feds are making sure every state/college is doing everything right. I have the feeling they are only going after Arizona because the goverment knows if all the states get together; the !@#^!! will hit the fan. TELL THEM IN WASHINGTON IN NOVEMBER.

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    i agree with this all the states need to get together especially texas

  • NoName 1 year ago
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    Is there something about illegal our government does not understand. If this statement is correct, "The I-9 Immigration form itself recites that "It is illegal to discriminate against any individual (other than an alien not authorized to work in the United States) in hiring, discharging, etc.", then does it not stand that a prospective employer would ask for some type of legal residency status, like a green card? If the employer does not look, how will he know whether or not the prosepctive employee is legal or not?

  • Lee Fox 1 year ago
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    When will Obama protect our country instead of helping criminals steal our jobs?

    I think we already know the answer.

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    I'm a white male, born in the United States. In each of the jobs I had, I was required to present a Social Security Card. I imagine if I spoke with a non-english accent, such as spanish, I would have been asked for my green card, or if I was a legal resident. Are you a citizen of the United States- is somthing commonly placed on an application, I guess you can feel safe to mark "No" in the Obama administration and still get a job? If I answered "No" I would expect another form explaining why as a Non-Citizen I was in the Country applying for employment?

    This is insane. America needs to wake up and elect a President that cares about America in 2012.

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    Voted--NO--on limiting welfare to Immigrants ( Bill S.947 ; on Jun 24, 1997 ) Reid has an open border immigration record with NumberUSA and Fair and needs to be recognized as a danger to America. Like so many other Liberal Democrats they are selling themselves for votes in the coming midterm election. Like all incumbents’ governors, mayors and elected official he and those advocating Amnesty and a trillion dollar welfare nightmare for taxpayers, needs to be levered from his nice comfy seat in the Senate.

    Call your Senator or Representative at 202-224-3121.and inform them you’re watching them on illegal immigration. We better be on our toes in November, because in large illegal alien states will violate the law and vote for pro-amnesty lawmakers.

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    Senator Reid voted--YES--on Comprehensive Immigration Reform--AMNESTY.(Bill S.1639 ; on Jun 28, 2007) Voted--NO--on declaring English as the official language of the US Government (Bill S.Amdt.1151 to S.1348 ; on Jun 6, 2007) Voted--NO--on building a Fence along the Mexican Border (Bill H R 6061 ; on Sep 29, 2006) Voting--YES--establishes a guest worker program with a path to citizenship for illegal aliens who have worked in the US for 5 years. ( Bill S. 2611 ; vote number 2006-157 on May 25, 2006) Voted--YES--on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security ( Bill S.Amdt.3985 to S.2611 ; vote number 2006-130 on May 18, 2006 )Voted--Yes--on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship.( Bill S.Amdt.3969 to S.2611 ; on May 18, 2006) Voted--YES--on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work ( Bill S.2260 ; on Jul 23, 1998)

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    Like Arizona, Nevada has a very large population of illegal immigrant households that have been continuously nibbling at the public welfare programs and across the rest across the country. Whereas, Arizona's Governor Jan Brewer along with state Senator Russell Peirce have enacted laws such as SB 1070, to try to inhibit the illegal immigration invasion. The omnibus Consolidated Appropriations bill includes a little-known provision that guts the major provisions of the Secure Fence Act of 2006. This provision -- buried on page 123 of Division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. It is my analysis that if the 2006 Secure Fence act had not been amended, to a single fence the growing occupancy of illegal aliens would not have happened to the 18 and up population. Sen. Reid has done nothing to safeguard his state from being overrun by illegal alien families working in the entertainment and service industries. With 15 million American workers jobless nationwide, why hasn't read made E-Verify permanent?

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    we really need help in texas seems like all the other border states are starting to do different things in the law system and texas is doing nothing and we have the worst problem of them all the other day i heard that they are now excepting the peso at stores in waco texas help

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    I agree..we need help in Texas! Houston?--Sanctuary City!! Austin?--Sanctuary City!! Dallas?--Sanctuary City!! We need help, but... it may be too late!?? My humble opinion is that The Powers That Be in Texas, long ago, decided to cede Texas to Mexico. And that is why I, as a native-born Texan, am packing my bags. Im moving. Im not rich enough to ever live in one of the nice neighborhoods, and I just cant stand living in 3rd World environments anymore. Typical 3 Bdrm House= two families of illegal aliens, 6-8 anchor babies, several pit bulls, and at least two pickups parked in the front yard. Why do they park on their front yard?

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    NOR DOES ANYBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND BELIEVE IT...? The Obama Czars has shown there true colors, that illegal immigration is a great way to collect votes in the future by pacifying large minority groups. Now ICE is openly releasing illegal aliens back onto Main Street. Allowing people to go free is an outrageous award for entering America illegally and its effect will bring in more nationals looking for government benefits.

    Perhaps not the best person to be witted against Sen. Harry Reid, but Candidate Sharron Angle did NOT dismantle E-Verify, illegal worker verification system, implemented by the Social Security administration and Homeland security databases. Reid is also a confirmed Pro-Amnesty lawmaker, when his own state of Nevada is suffering chronic unemployment and a withering state deficit.

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    Coming up in in 13 days is the Delaware battle between the Republican Mike Castle unseated for 15 years and the candidate Christine O'Donnell supported financially the Tea Party Express. Joe Miller's the surprise upset winner of the Republican Senate primary in Alaska, supported by the Tea Party Express and Sarah Palin. Is this the year of anti-tax and spend? Smaller government and returning the power back to each state and THE PEOPLE..

    Is this the genesis of politicians working for "The people" again and not for the special interests and open border lobbyists? Only time will tell and the final results is the November midterm elections? As for a reduction in the illegal alien population, I don't believe it for one minute?

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    Senator Harry Reid must be furtively looking over his shoulder at the downfall of the entrenched incumbents in Congress.Not looking out for the American peoples interest , will also be his fate. His hard-line push for Amnesty has riled the majority of Americans and now he to must pay the "Piper?" Is 2010 shaping up to be an Anti-Incumbent, Anti-Liberal or Anti-Democratic year, beginning with lost seat of Martha Coakley in Massachusetts to Scott Brown? Whose is next on the incumbent black list for Ditching?

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    "Justice Officials accused Arizona community colleges discriminated against nearly 250 noncitizen job applicants by mandating that they fill out more documents than required by law to prove their eligibility to work. The Department said this violated the federal Immigration and Nationality Act. "

    like sorry, as it says "you have to prove that you have the RIGHT to work in the United States"

    Gads, Will Obama get off it already!

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    It seems that the Obama administration is ignoring its responsibility to carry our immigration laws.

  • American Man 1 year ago
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    Stop being stupid all you racist bastards. You cannot ask for green cards if the I-9 form requirements are met. What is this? Nazi Germany? I guess AZ is Nazi-like but this disease needs to be treated before it spreads. This country was formed to limit government interference.

    AZ is asking for papers when you are out for a walk, ICE are on trains and buses asking for papers. Sounds like the Gestapo to me.

  • Charles Bundschu 1 year ago
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    Whatever it takes, the immigration problem has grown too big for any mere legal suit this way or that!
    The economy is haywire, jobs are nowhere, and there is no respect for authority. We all need to pray God will get congress back into conservative control, and begin to bring some semblence of responsible and corrective law enforcement to all borders--no more illegals, no more drug smuggling, and better international relations that can be trusted. Thanks.

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    from the ICE website
    "A green card is issued to all permanent residents as proof that they are authorized to live and work in the United States. If you are a permanent resident age 18 or older, you are required to have a valid green card in your possession at all times."

    "special form required more documents and a copy of a green card. When the potential employee couldn't find the green card, the suit said, the college would not let Singaporewalla work."

    Jeebus...there is a Federal lawsuit about this case? the monkeys are running the zoo

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    Employers who hire illegal immigrants can be fined, but the Obama administration also says they can be fined for asking legal immigrants to show their green card.

    The two are mutually exclusive. This is absolute insanity, literally. It's not just a corruption issue anymore, this quack needs to have his head examined.

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
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    I love the so called American Mans??? 'Racist' Rant.
    What is Racist about asking for what is required under Law, the Green card, simple, easy to comply with, If you are legally here.
    I am 57 years old have lived all over the world, and easily work , in any country, or travel with my passports, id cards, fingerprints and credibility in my person.
    The Problem is, that those who attempt to drag their corrupt, invasive, ideology of cricumventing the law, and immigration, have made a mockery out of my service to country, Family and lifestyle of honest service... a Joke. My family immigrated from Europe, and stood in line, suffered the taunts and abuses, and still did it by the book, legal, and without social assistance or handouts.
    Glad I lived when I did, its gone now, and going to be Near impossible to repair.

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
    Report Abuse

    I love the so called American Mans??? 'Racist' Rant.
    What is Racist about asking for what is required under Law, the Green card, simple, easy to comply with, If you are legally here.
    I am 57 years old have lived all over the world, and easily work , in any country, or travel with my passports, id cards, fingerprints and credibility in my person.
    The Problem is, that those who attempt to drag their corrupt, invasive, ideology of cricumventing the law, and immigration, have made a mockery out of my service to country, Family and lifestyle of honest service... a Joke. My family immigrated from Europe, and stood in line, suffered the taunts and abuses, and still did it by the book, legal, and without social assistance or handouts.
    Glad I lived when I did, its gone now, and going to be Near impossible to repair.

  • politicians and the media are making false claims about immigration statistics to scare voters. crime in az has been going down for a decade. there is no increase in illegal immigration. jan brewer takes months to correct false statements about border beheadings. vote her out. senators kyle and mccain continue to repeat false kidnapping statistics.
    in spite of politicians and media hype about increased crime due to increased illegal immigration in az - neither claim is supported by evidence from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, the FBI, US Department of Commerce, or the AZ Department of Public Safety.

  • mountaindoings 1 year ago
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    Illegal is illegal, I don't care who you are, Federal, State, County, City or town. You don't don't break the law of the land. The Feds are NOT exempt and those people who think just because they work for the Feds that they are exempt should be either prisoned or at the least fired from their jobs as being a danger to the USA well being.

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