LANSING – Stepping in where the federal government has failed to act, House Democrats today announced a bold plan to protect Michigan workers' jobs by making it a felony for employers to hire illegal immigrants, requiring employers to document the legal status of their workers, and giving Michigan workers legal recourse when companies replace them with undocumented laborers.
"Every job that goes to an illegal worker is one more job that is stolen from a hard-working Michigan resident who is trying to make ends meet," said State Representative Richard LeBlanc (D-Westland). "Michigan workers must come first. While the state's economy is struggling and unemployment rates continue to soar, it is outrageous that our federal government hasn't acted to protect the jobs of our residents."
The House Democrats' plan:
- Makes it a felony to knowingly employ an illegal or undocumented alien or to encourage such a person to enter Michigan with the intent of employing him or her.
- Requires employers to fill out an I-9 form for all workers, confirming that they have verified their employees' status as legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Establishes penalties for repeat violators that include suspending or revoking their license to do business in Michigan; levying fines of up to $250,000; and, for the owners of companies that are the worst offenders, imposing prison terms of two to five years.
The plan also gives fired workers who were replaced by illegal immigrants the ability to hold employers accountable in court.
"It is important that we do everything we can to create jobs for Michigan workers and turn our economy around," LeBlanc said. "Employers who choose to break the law by hiring illegal immigrants are devastating Michigan's business community and our working families. Our plan will give Michigan the tools it currently lacks to punish these companies."