Friday, December 12, 2008

I can't believe voters want to enforce the law

ACLU, activists sue Columbia County over illegal workers measure
The American Civil Liberties Union joined with state and local worker activists Thursday to jointly file a lawsuit in Columbia County Circuit Court aimed at scuttling a measure passed in November that would make it a crime for employers inside the county to hire illegal aliens.

Um, it was already a crime for employers to hire illegal aliens. The problem was that there was no one enforcing the law at the federal level.

The measure would require employers to verify the legality of their employees through E-Verify, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security-operated database where employers can input data, such as Social Security information, and retrieve information regarding a person’s legal status to work in the United States.

Everyone who gets a job must "prove" that they are legally eligible to work. This means that they fill out Form I-9. E-Verify just gives employers the ability to make sure that the information given on that form is not fraudulent.

It also gives everyday citizens the assurance that their Social Security Number isn't being used by an illegal alien for work purposes.

So a measure that increases employment opportunities for eligible workers and prevents ID theft is being opposed by the ACLU and a few folks who think that enforcing the law equals "intolerance."

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

The American-in-Name-Only Civil Liberties Union could screw up a wet dream. The trouble here is that their wet dream is to screw up the country completely and irrevocably.

Anonymous said...

Seems to me that as a legal matter, the ACLU may be right. That said, the ACLU is repugnant to the American way of life. Are these people really defending the civil liberties of illegal aliens now? Ridiculous. And where were these people when Ohio was terrorizing "Joe the Plumber" with their little gestapo tactics? The ACLU sucks.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe you want to enforce the law, Daniel, seeing as how you're so selective about which ones give you wood.

Anonymous said...

anon 8:19 um what? I cant follow that train of thought even though your ET loving ass probably left some reeses pieces.

Anonymous said...

The ACLU has spent the last eight YEARS fighting the "gestapo tactics," as you describe them, of the Bush administration. Where have you been?

Bobkatt said...

The ACLU defines the term "tortured logic" with this complaint.

First they say that the measure is beyond the county and state's jurisdiction. However counties and states often dictate terms of employment such as age, educational qualifications, etc.

Second that regulating immigration is solely a federal authority. I fail to see anything in article pertaining to enforcing immigration laws, only employment.

Third, the disingenuous concern with the counties inability to pay for enforcement. Since most of the verification of legality would fall on the employer to enter SSN in a free federal database, how would it cost the Sheriff's dept.?

And last, it is stated that the Northwest Workers Justice Project's mission is to "improve workplace rights for low-wage and immigrant workers in the Pacific Northwest"...

Working conditions for low-wage and legal immigrant workers would automatically improve if they did not have to compete with illegal aliens that drive down wages and working conditions by continuing to supply an underclass of slave labor.

Kudos to the ACLU for any effort they have made to counteract the current government (George Bush and the congress) power grab and destruction of our constitution. That said, the ACLU should be standing up for legal immigrants and low income Americans and it's obvious that challenging this measure helps neither.

Bobkatt said...

Maybe the ACLU can sue the Dept. of Homeland Security.

Anonymous said...

9:54, you are crazy. Gestapo tactics of what? Bush interrogating enemy combatants in Guantanamo? Meanwhile, the guy you just voted for is going to bring them to the U.S. Great.

You also mean wire tapping calls made overseas involving suspect terrorists? Well, looks like your guy voted in favor of such gestapo tactics.

Meanwhile, in Ohio, the Democratic state machine went after someone who dared to take on Obama. They checked him up and down in about 6 different state agencies. Yet not a peep out of the ACLU. The ACLU sucks.

Anonymous said...

The ACLU is a typical left wing "bully-ing" organization. Case in point:
After the 9/11 attacks, the NYPD issued a directive stating that random checks of bags on subway cars could be implemented. Mass transit made the public aware of this new action through a variety of public announcements.

Well, of course the ACLU fought it citing the "Unreasonable Search and Seizure" clause and the city backed down against threat of lawsuit, thereby making the traveling public a better and easier target for London and Madrid style bombing attacks.

Thing is....if you go to the ACLU headquarters building, there is a notice stating that your bags will subject to search posted on the wall in the lobby.

Anonymous said...

Well, looks like your guy voted in favor of such gestapo tactics ...

That's right. He DID vote in favor of those tactics. That's why he's not my guy. I didn't vote for him. Care to pull your head out of your ass and try again? If you manage to get it out, you might spend some time listening to the stories of the innocent American people who have been terrorized by OUR government under Bush & Co. It's an assault on civil rights that was launched under Bill Clinton, who is ALSO not my guy, which is why I didn't vote for him either, asshole.

Anonymous said...

"ACLU, activists sue Columbia County over illegal workers measure"

EXCELLENT! MAY THEY WIN!

Anonymous said...

Anon 4:43: You want the ACLU to win in Columbia County?????

Why?????

Are you looking for a job there?????