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Waterman co-authors bill to rid Indiana of illegal immigration
State Senator John Waterman
NEWS RELEASE 1.10.08
Contact: Carrie Zapfe
317-232-7184
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Waterman: legislation to rid
Punishes those that profit from employing below- market cost labor
(STATEHOUSE) — Sen. John Waterman (R-Shelburn) has co-authored one of the toughest illegal immigration measures in the country aimed at punishing those who harbor, transport or employ illegal immigrants. Senate Bill 335 is modeled after laws in
“Illegal immigration is a problem we just can’t ignore,” Waterman said. “Obviously we can’t rely on the federal government to enforce the law and protect our borders, so we as Hoosiers must take action ourselves and stop the flow of illegal immigrants into
Highlights of the bill include:
· Requiring the Superintendent of State Police to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding with the federal government to assist with enforcement of federal immigration and customs law;
· Prohibiting a person from knowingly employing an unauthorized alien;
· Requiring the Attorney General to investigate complaints of violation of the law and local prosecutors to file actions against those who knowingly violate the law;
· Requiring a court to hold a hearing, make a determination and:
o Order the employer to terminate employment, sign an affidavit with court, be placed on probation for three years, order the suspension of all licenses to operate in the state of Indiana if perpetrator fails to sign an affidavit with the court (first violation);
o Revoke all licenses to operate in the State of
· Prohibiting any unit of government, state or local, from entering into or continuing a public contract with a firm that employs an illegal alien;
· Requiring all hospitals to report total costs of care of the illegal alien population to the Indiana State Department of Health;
· Requiring employers to verify employment eligibility through the federal pilot program after Dec. 31, 2008; and
· Makes it a Class A Misdemeanor against those found guilty of transporting, shielding from detection, concealing, or harboring an illegal alien. Subsequent offenses would be a class D or C felony.
SB 335 will be heard in the Senate Committee on Pensions & Labor on Wednesday, January 16 at 9:00 a.m.
Waterman serves Senate District 39, which includes Clay, Greene, Knox, Daviess, Owen, Sullivan and
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For your convenience, a high-resolution photo of Senator Waterman is available at: http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_republicans/newsroom/photo-gallery.htm
