Business Owners Slam Crackdown On Illegal Workers

RIVERSIDE (CBS) — A new plan to verify immigration status for employees across five Riverside county cities has some local businesses very upset.

Temecula City Councilman Jeff Comachero tells KNX 1070's Chris Sedens the new policy is aimed at cutting the region's soaring unemployment rate.

Comachero says the law has forced many local entrepreneurs in the restaurant and farming industries to admit they have been hiring illegal workers.

Last month, Temecula joined Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Menifee and Norco in requiring businesses to check the immigration status of new workers through the federal E-Verify database.

Employers that don't comply can lose their business licenses, but some are already threatening to close their doors over the new law.

Critics argue that the crackdown is more motivated by political — rather than economic — conditions.

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

In:
• Immigration