First Day of Testimony on Illegal Immigration Bill

A Senate committee today began the first of three days of public testimony on a bill to punish businesses that knowingly hire undocumented workers. It does not require state police to enforce federal immigration law, like illegal immigration that failed last year. But it does still threaten to revoke the licenses of businesses who knowingly hire undocumented workers, unless they use the federal e-verify worker status verification program. Today, senators heard from people supporting the bill, including Julie Myers Wood, the former head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, during the recent Bush Administration.

“I’m very pleased to see that Indiana is considering incentivizing businesses to use e-verify, making e-verify mandatory, as a way to ensure that jobs in Indiana are held for U.S. citizens in Indiana and others who are legally authorized to work in the United States.”

The bill has many provisions regarding documentation. It would require people filing for unemployment insurance to show up in person, in an attempt to end benefit payments to illegal immigrants. It would also disallow federal tax I.D. numbers for undocumented workers and consulate cards as acceptable forms of identifications for employment or loans. Public testimony will take place tomorrow evening. Opponents of the bill will be offered a final chance to testify before the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee next week.

Illegal Immigration Bill Introduced; Hearing Planned

State Senator Mike Delph of Carmel says he’s once again introduced a bill that would penalize businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Legislative Committee Takes Testimony on Immigration

Members of the interim legislative committee on immigration issues heard testimony at the statehouse today from both law professors and immigration experts.  The goal is to look at what options the Indiana legislature has to enforce and regulate illegal immigration.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Senators Want Illegal Immigration Study Committee

State senator Tom Weatherwax of Logansport and Senate President Pro Tem David Long of Fort Wayne are calling for more research on how an illegal immigration law would affect Indiana taxpayers and government.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Time Running Out for Immigration Bill

Supporters of a bill aimed at curbing illegal immigration are pleading with the public to help them get the measure passed through the Indiana legislature before the session ends this Friday.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

House Approves Illegal Immigration Bill

Legislators in the Indiana House today voted in favor of a bill that seeks to crack down on illegal immigration in the state.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

This Week at the Indiana Statehouse

This week the House Ways and Means Committee made major changes to a plan for constitutional property taxes.  Also Governor Mitch Daniels signed a major water use agreement and lawmakers in the House sparred over an illegal immigration bill.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

House Delays Action on Immigration Bill

Debate on an illegal immigration bill in the Indiana House was halted Thursday night when House Republicans left to caucus and did not come back, delaying any action on the bill until next week.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

House Committee Makes Changes to Immigration Bill

The House Public Policy Committee today made several changes to a Senate-approved bill that attempts to crack down on illegal immigration by stripping businesses of their licenses if they hire undocumented workers.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

House Committee To Vote on Illegal Immigration Bill

A bill that would penalize businesses that hire illegal immigrants will be heard again Monday in the Indiana House Public Policy Committee.  But likely changes to the bill are leaving supporters less than optimistic that the bill will be approved by the full General Assembly.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.