Speech #1100041426

And as long as the incentive to work and benefits exist. illegals will flood into our country. I have been a consistent advocate for tough employer sanctions. Yet FlakeGutierrez prohibits State and local governments from punishing employers who have hired illegal Immigrants or from requiring them to use an employment verification system or from requiring that that system be used to verify the legal status of renters or public benefits applicants or people who are undergoing background checks. It dramatically reduces the civil penalties for employers who knowingly hire or continue to employ illegals. or who fail to comply with the employment verification systemn already approved by the last Congress. As a matter of fact. section 301 of the bill. employers can avoid using the verification system altogether simply by saying they are hiring private contractors. This legislation is tantamount to the surrender of Americas ability to control our territory from any foreigner who wants to come here. It is an immigration catastrophe. a nightmare for Americas most vulnerable. our vulnerable middle class. a nightmare. Frighteningly. President Bush is supportive. as are many corporateminded Republicans. and almost every Democrat that I know. although there are a few. hopefully. coming over to our side who understand how this is hurting their constituents.