PJ: Texas has an ingenious or unique or simply crazy approach to dealing with the illegal immigration problem that would make it OK to hire an illegal immigrant to be your nanny, gardener or house keeper and pay them the lowest wages you can get away with. I may have to go with crazy on this one.
THE NEWS
Texas law motion outdoes Arizona’s
Low level workers treated worst, make least money
A bill filed in the Texas Legislature sparked controversy this week by proposing prison sentences for people who hire illegal immigrants.
House Bill 1202, written by Republican Rep. Debbie Riddle, would punish those who “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly” hire undocumented immigrants with a two-year prison sentence and up to $US 10,000 in fines.
The bill excludes people who knowingly hire illegal immigrants to perform low-wage menial tasks such as domestic work on private property.
“HB 1202 has really created a scandal in our community,” said Laura Murillo, the president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Houston.
Murillo commented that nannies, maids, gardeners and other domestic workers were some of the most discriminated against undocumented workers and tended to receive below minimum wage salaries.
“If this cannot be read between the lines, I don’t know what can,” she said.
Other critics of the bill have argued that the bill could have serious consequences for the civil rights of people of all races and ages.
Rep. Riddle said she expected only positive reactions to the bill.
“I’m not very politically correct most of the time. I’m not very good at it,” she said. “What I’m trying to do is to inject some common sense into the government. I realize that it’s not too easy,” she added
The U.S. Supreme Court of Justice will analyze, within the next few months, whether this bill is possible or legal. According to the Pew Hispanic Center in Texas, there are about 1.6 million undocumented workers living in the state.
http://www.thenews.com.mx/index.php/home/P01-7650.htm
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