Chamber Representative Testifies on Arizona's Immigration Law

Arizona's new worksite enforcement law is placing unmanageable financial and administrative burdens on employers, employees, federal agencies, and local law enforcement, Mitchell C. Laird, president of MCL Enterprises Inc. in Arizona told members of Congress on May 6.

Testifying on behalf of the U.S. Chamber during a hearing of the House Ways and Means Social Security subcommittee, Laird, whose company employs more than 600 people at 24 Burger King restaurants in Arizona, told lawmakers it was difficult to comply with the new law, which requires employers to use the flawed E-Verify employment verification program. That requirement requires more training for managers and employees in an industry that faces high turnover. Laird predicts that he will have 900 new hires in 2008.

In addition, the Social Security Administration is facing an influx of requests for clarification from employers who are switching from the formerly voluntary Basic Pilot verification program to the now mandatory E-Verify program. 

“By creating a new and devastating penalty for violation of immigration laws, the Arizona legislature is creating tremendous pressure on Arizona employers to discriminate against prospective employees who could be the cause of a complaint because of their appearance, nationality, or language skills.”

Laird called on Congress to “work with the business community to create a unified and workable” employment verification system. 

Read Laird’s testimony.

Login to view/submit comments.