PHOENIX (Reuters) - "Arizona steel fabricator Sheridan Bailey has been laying off employees in recent weeks even though he has plenty of orders on the books.
His firm, Ironco Enterprises, shed around 10 percent of its 100-strong workforce to get in line with a state law going into effect on Tuesday that targets employers who hire illegal immigrants.
"We have let some people go who we came to know were not properly documented. So in that respect the law is already doing what the framers expected," he said.
The law, passed days after a federal immigration overhaul died in the U.S. Senate in June, punishes first-time violators who knowingly hire undocumented workers with a 10-day suspension of their business licenses.
A second offense means they lose it.
Many Arizonans support the new law. They say it takes away the lure of jobs for illegal immigrants and clamps down on employers unfairly profiting from cheap migrant labor.
"The only people who should be nervous are employers who hire illegals at cheap rates to gain unfair advantage over their competitors. They should be worrying a lot," said John Kavanagh, a Republican state lawmaker who co-sponsored the bill.
Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, signed the measure into law despite voicing concern that it was a business "death penalty."
A coalition of business groups filed suit to block the measure, arguing that it will be harmful to local businesses. A U.S. District Court threw out the challenge earlier this month, but a new suit has since been filed.
Lawyers opposed to the employer sanctions law say that it is unconstitutional and is open to abuse by people making malicious anonymous complaints. They warn that it will also make Arizona less competitive nationally.
"(Already) we have had businesses shut down, businesses that will not go ahead with acquisitions. It is going to get worse before it gets better," said Julie Pace, one of the lawyers bringing the employers' suit.
"Arizona will get bypassed economically. We will be known as tough but stupid from an economic perspective," she said."
Amazing. Thats akin to drug dealers...who ALSO run illegal businesses...complaining that putting them out of work will hurt the economy. Next come the bank robbers, muggers, and second-story men. Enforcing laws ALWAYS puts certain people out of work. People that USED to be called criminals but as is the case with illegal-immigrant employers, suddenly want a get out of jail free card...just because they've been getting away with it for so long.
Simply cannot make this shit up.
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