Immigration Bill Called ‘Boon for Crooked Business’

The bipartisan immigration bill now before the Senate would grant amnesty to businesses that have knowingly employed illegal immigrants, even if they knew their workers were using bogus Social Security numbers.

“The illegal workers at least have to pay a token fine. The employers of illegal immigrants who violated a whole list of laws themselves don’t even have to pay,” Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, told The Washington Times. “So this is a boon for crooked business.”

The center, a think tank that wants a crackdown on immigration, conducted a detailed analysis of the 844-page bill and found that it goes too far in excusing businesses from illegal activities.

For example, companies that hired illegal immigrants would not face prosecution even if they committed fraud by continuing to employ workers after being advised their Social Security numbers didn’t match.

The employers also would not be prosecuted if they violated federal laws by paying unfair wages to illegal workers. In addition, they won't be required to pay back taxes for employees who worked off the books.

“No charges would be brought against employers who have hired or who are currently employing illegal aliens,” the center said. “Employers would be allowed to continue to employ illegal aliens who apply for provisional status even though they know that these employees are unlawfully in the United States.”

The Senate bill would legalize most of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States, but it withholds citizenship until the Department of Homeland Security takes steps to secure the border.