a baby step

We're told by John Morton, President Obama’s choice to head ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency), at his Senate confirmation hearing this week, that the new administration will target employers who hire undocumented immigrants rather than the undocumented workers themselves.

“We cannot make sustained reductions in illegal immigration without deterring employment of unauthorized labor,” Morton told the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. “We need to place renewed focus on employers to ensure that they are playing by the rules.”

Morton vowed to “vigorously pursue” civil fines against employer violators. The Bush administration did not exact a single dime of civil penalties from employers in 2005 and 2006, Morton testified, compared to $25 million imposed as recently as 1996.

The Obama administration so far this year has imposed $2.3 million in civil fines against employers, Morton said, adding: “I would encourage this trend.”