Green Bay passes ordinance against hiring illegals
(Published Wednesday, June 20, 2007 10:19:35 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
Associated Press
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Any business hiring illegal immigrants could have its licenses, contracts and other grants from the city taken away under an ordinance passed Tuesday night.
The ordinance was approved, 9-2, by the City Council and is due to take effect this weekend after the official notice is published.
Opponents contended the proposal would be unenforceable, inhumane and mean-spirited and would only add to the area's labor shortage.
But advocates for the ordinance said it was needed because ignoring illegal immigration trivializes the hardships endured by legal immigrants. They argued that businesses hiring illegal workers should be punished.
Alderman Tom Weber, who supported the ordinance since it was first proposed, said he first assumed it would be symbolic but now he feels it could be enforced.
"I don't think there's a game plan out there to go out and start knocking on doors and going into back rooms and things of that nature. I think when the obvious situation comes to bear, we're going to know it," he said. "Then we'll address it, but there's no witch hunt going on here."
Alderman Jerry Wiezbiskie, who opposed the ordinance, said proving a violation would require getting "a federal determination of an alien's unlawful status."
"It's a federal law, and it has to be federally enforced, it cannot be enforced by the city, it cannot be enforced by the City Council," he said. "I maintain that the City Council should get back to taking care of Green Bay. Let's not take care of federal issues."
