FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boots supports tough illegal immigration measures
Bill punishes those that profit from harboring, transporting or employing below- market cost labor
(STATEHOUSE) — In support of one of the toughest illegal immigration measures in the country, Sen. Phil Boots is co-authoring legislation punishing those who harbor, transport or employ illegal immigrants. Senate Bill 335 is modeled after laws in Arizona, Georgia, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
“Since the federal government has failed to control illegal immigration, we are going to tackle the issue at the state level,” Boots said. “Proposed legislation penalizes people who intentionally aid illegal immigrants by harboring, transporting or employing illegal aliens. Perhaps, if their resources are taken away, laws and rules to become a legal immigrant will be followed. “It’s not fair that legal immigrants go through the process and legitimately earn their citizenship while others break the law and live in the United States illegally,” Boots said.
Boots and multiple Senate Republicans including the author of the measure, Sen. Mike Delph (R-Carmel), will present SB 335 in the Senate Committee on Pensions & Labor on Wednesday, January 16 at 9 a.m.
“I encourage citizens who are concerned about illegal immigration to attend the hearing and voice their opinions,” Boots said.
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:
- 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);
- Revoke all licenses to operate in the State of Indiana if second offense occurs during probationary period (second violation).
- 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.
Boots is joined by Sen. Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington), Sens. Jim Arnold (D-LaPorte), Richard Bray (R-Martinsville), Vaneta Becker (R-Evansville), Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso), Jeff Drozda (R-Westfield), Beverly Gard (R-Greenfield), Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn), Brent Steele (R-Bedford), Greg Walker (R-Columbus), Brent Waltz (R-Greenwood), John Waterman (R-Shelburn) and Mike Young (R-Indianapolis).
Sen. Boots represents Senate District 23, which includes Montgomery County, Fountain County, and portions of Boone, Clinton, Warren and Hendricks counties.
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