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Arizona firms brace for immigration sanctions law
By Tim Gaynor Sun Dec 30, 9:41 AM ET
PHOENIX (Reuters) -
The law, passed days after a federal immigration overhaul died in the U.S.
Senate in June, punishes first-time violators who knowingly hire
undocumented workers with a 10-day suspension of their business licenses.
A second offense means they lose it.
The measure also requires employers to use an online federal database,
dubbed "E-Verify," to check the employment eligibility of new hires in the
border state, which is home to an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants.
Many employers like Bailey say they are pruning their workforce of illegal
immigrants to avoid prosecution, or have outsourced some operations to
neighboring states and even over the border to Mexico.
Other businesses have put a freeze on expansion in Arizona out of fear they
will face prosecution should they inadvertently hire an illegal immigrant.
"It is too much of a risk for us," said Jason LeVecke, a franchise owner
who operates a chain of 57 Carl's Jr. hamburg er restaurants in the state.
He plans to expand in Texas.