Newest policies on immigrant employment cheered, jeered

By Gil Halsted, Wisconsin Public Radio

MADISON (WPR) Immigrant advocates and employers in Wisconsin say the Obama administration is sending mixed messages on immigration reform.

This week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security imposed new restrictions on employers with federal contracts, and at the same time promised not to penalize employers who hire workers with invalid social security numbers.

Employers and immigrant rights advocates were angered when DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said federal contractors must use the e-verify database to vet employees on citizenship status before hiring them. But they applaud her decision not to require employers to fire workers with invalid social security numbers. 

John Metcalf of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce says neither method protects employers from violating the law.  He says he can’t justify holding anyone responsible who hires someone with documentation that “on the surface” looks to be in compliance with current laws and standards.

Immigrant rights advocates are also unhappy with this week's announcement. Christine Neumann-Ortiz of the Milwaukee based Voces de la Frontera says neither database is reliable. She says employers end up penalizing legal immigrants. 

Employers and immigrant advocates   hope that Congress will take up comprehensive immigration reform and pass a bill that will clarify the rules for both immigrants and the employers who hire them.

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Information from Wisconsin Public Radio, www.wpr.org