 House Bill 1879, sponsored by state Rep. Bill Mitchell,
R-Forsyth, and Adam Brown, R-Decatur, would require Illinois
businesses to participate in the federal E-Verify program, which
verifies the citizenship and immigration status of new employees. HB
1879 was defeated in the House Executive Committee on a vote of
4-5-2.The current Illinois law allows for voluntary participation
in the E-Verify program, but Mitchell and Brown believe
participation should be mandatory, to ensure that Illinois
businesses are not hiring illegal aliens.
"I’ve had community and union leaders come to me with complaints
of illegal aliens performing jobs Illinois citizens can do,"
Mitchell said. "With Decatur having one of the highest unemployment
rates in the state, we want to make sure that illegal aliens are not
taking jobs that should be going to the citizens of Illinois. I’m
disappointed, but not surprised, that a committee controlled by
Chicago Democrats defeated our common-sense legislation."
Brown took umbrage to the comments of one Chicago legislator, who
stated that undocumented workers are only trying to put food on the
table for their families.
"I am trying to protect the jobs of our citizens," Brown said. "I
was elected to represent the hardworking families of the 110th
District, who also have to put food on the table for their families.
Illinois businesses should be using the federal E-Verify program to
ensure that Illinois jobs go to Illinois citizens."
[Text from file sent on behalf of
Rep. Bill
Mitchell by Illinois Senate
Republicans] |
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