States Target Employers of Aliens

Frustrated by Congress' inability to adopt major immigration reform, states are opening a new assault on illegal immigrants by passing laws targeting employers who hire undocumented workers.

Colorado became the first state to empower its Department of Labor and Employment to investigate contractors working for the state government for violating federal laws against hiring illegal aliens. Pennsylvania has stiffened penalties for employers who receive government grants or loans and hire illegal aliens, and state lawmakers are debating legislation to target all employers statewide. And Georgia and Massachusetts, along with Colorado, now require all public employers to use a federal work authorization program to verify that no illegal aliens have been hired.