Immigration status to be checked in Gwinnett
In June, it was first revealed at this site that Gwinnett County was in violation of the “Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act” by failing to qualify applicants for business licenses through federal databases. In response to a flurry of emails from constituents and coverage in the local media, Commission Chairman Charles Bannister and County Attorney Karen Thompson discounted my assertion and questioned my knowledge on the subject.
This week, Gwinnett County began qualifying business license applicants according to state law.
The Next Step: E-Verify for All Gwinnett Employers
Chairman Bannister, the Commission and staff should be commended for moving forward on this issue, but there is still more to be done. The law requires business license applicants to swear to their lawful presence, but what about the workers that the business employs? While the business owner may be “legal,” there is no assurance that his employees are. And as long as jobs are available to illegal aliens, they will continue to take legal workers’ jobs and be a drain on public resources.
The County Commission should take the next step. Through authority accorded by federal law, however, the county (and cities that issue licenses) can require that a business license applicant also prove that the business is registered to verify new hires through the federal E-Verify database.
E-Verify is free to use; boasts a 99.5% accuracy rate; and is an effective tool for identifying ineligible employees while protecting the rights of legal workers. I know– I own a company that can manage the verification program for an employer. I know how easy and effective participation in E-Verify is.
Without requiring all Gwinnett employers to verify the status of their employees, the county’s enforcement effort can never be fully effective. Gwinnett County must require verification now.
From the Gwinnett Daily Post: Gwinnett officials this week began checking the immigration status of people applying for an occupation tax certificate, which is commonly referred to as a business license.
Whats going on with 287g when do banister stop this program?
287(g) isn’t the answer to Gwinnett`s illegal immigration problem. It is much less costly to eliminate the attraction so that the illegals self-deport. Requiring E-Verify participation for businesses to receive/renew a business license is a better step in the right direction. [Background: http://www.talkgwinnett.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=364&Itemid=4 ]
thats so true BobG! But it lets the illegals know that there time is up! Plus banister would never go for it (E-Verify) his developer buddies need the workers