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Dead Constitution See other Dead Constitution Articles Title: Department of Homeland Security sues state Department of Homeland Security sues state Illinois was one of five states with high illegal immigrant populations chosen to launch the federal government’s new “E-Verify” program, a free Web site that allows employers to check whether a job applicant’s Social Security number is valid. Out of concerns that the “E-Verify” program’s database is inaccurate and that it takes too long to get results, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation last month that blocks Illinois employers from using the system after Jan. 1 unless the database is found to produce accurate results within three days at least 99% of the time. A companion bill is meant to ensure that worker rights are protected. “Both bills were passed overwhelmingly, with bipartisan support. The Governor reviewed the history of the issue and concurred with the General Assembly that the system as it is now leaves too much room for mistakes and abuse,” a spokeswoman for Gov. Blagojevich says in an e-mail. More than 22,000 companies nationwide have signed up to use the E-Verify program, including more than 800 in Illinois, says a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security. “It’s an important tool to enable employers to follow the law.” The suit, filed in federal district court in Springfield, seeks a judicial order that the state law is pre-empted by federal law under the U.S. Constitution. "Today's lawsuit seeks to invalidate an Illinois state law that frustrates our ability to assist employers in making sure their workforce is legal, and in doing so conflicts with federal law," said a statement by Carl Nichols, deputy assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Division, which sued Illinois on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security. Jerry Roper, president of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the lawsuit, saying the state law blocking participation in E-Verify is “just another bad public policy, because businesses need predictability and certainty.” The lawsuit also was applauded by U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton, who said in a statement that “Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois Legislature are acting against the best interest of Illinois workers, Illinois families, and against the safety of our nation. “It is unbelievable that a legislative body would prohibit honest employers the right to voluntarily verify the citizenship status of their workers. It is against the law to hire an illegal alien and the federal E-Verify system is currently the best means available for employers to ensure compliance.” State Rep. Cynthia Soto, a Chicago Democrat who pushed for the law, said she was surprised by the lawsuit because she had not received any complaints from federal officials while pushing for the higher standards in the Legislature. She said the law was spurred by complaints from constituents who were fired by employers who received initial notice that the new hires were not documented residents but before final verification. "That's unfair, too," Soto said of the quick firings. "It doesn't give them a chance." A spokesman for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said the office had just received the complaint Monday afternoon and was reviewing it. (The Associated Press contributed to this report.) Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Zipporah, all (#0)
State rights ping.
"First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. Then they fight you. Then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
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