Immigrant job bill called redundant

BY BART JONES | Newsday Staff Writer

September 1, 2006

A coalition of immigrant advocates and civil liberties activists yesterday said a proposed Suffolk County law aimed at contractors who hire undocumented immigrants will inflame racial tensions and isn't needed because the federal government already has a similar law on the books.

"This bill is bad for Suffolk because it will stir up racial tension, increase red tape for non-profits and charities, and add increased taxpayer costs to the county," said Jim McAsey of a Farmingdale-based workers' rights group called Jobs With Justice at a news conference called by advocacy groups to denounce the proposed law.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy has said that the bill is aimed at beefing up enforcement of a 20-year-old federal labor law and would require all entities, including charities and social service agencies, that do business with the county to verify their workers are in the country legally.

He has picked up support from some construction industry unions and politicians, including Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford).

"While we in Suffolk County cannot do the federal government's job in enforcing this for every business throughout our county, we can and should make sure that companies doing business with the county are abiding by the law and are not getting a competitive advantage through the illegal underground economy," Levy said yesterday.

At the news conference, an attorney for the New York chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Udi Ofer, said he believed that the proposed law was unconstitutional.

"Suffolk County does not have the authority to pass legislation that attempts to change federal immigration law," Ofer said. He said the proposed legislation was "riddled with constitutional flaws and anti-immigrant sentiments."

For his part, Levy dismissed the criticism.

"Many of the opponents of this bill are completely out of touch with the sentiments of the residents of this county who want nothing more than to see our laws enforced," he said. "These critics may speak loudly, but they do not speak for many."