In yet another potential major win that is being pushed forward by Republicans, Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) has put forward a bill called the Putting American Workers First Act that would, if passed, give the federal authorities a great deal more leeway in cracking down on the employers of illegal aliens.
As background, many proponents of restrictionist immigration policy have argued that the best way to encourage self-deportation of illegal aliens is to crack down not just on the illegal aliens who are employed in America, but on those who employ them, so as to ensure that other employers are reticent to hire illegal aliens. Without anywhere to work, the argument goes, they will be encouraged to self-deport.
However, some laws in place make achieving that somewhat difficult, as employers can cite various anti-discrimination statutes as justification for not working harder to exclude illegal alien workers from their payrolls, particularly in jobs consisting largely of menial work. The new bill put forward by Sen. Banks would make it much more difficult to companies to justify hiring illegal aliens.
To effect that change, the bill would give the National Labor Relations Board jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute employers who are suspected of hiring illegal aliens. Under its provisions, hiring an illegal alien would be deemed an unfair labor practice, as would be unionizing illegal aliens.
Further, the bill would encourage good behavior that helps the federal government crack down on illegal immigration by adding a safe harbor for employers who confirm work eligibility of potential employees by using E-Verify, and shielding employers from discrimination law or unfair labor practice charges for firing employees who are ineligible to work in the US.
The bill’s background, describing the need for the new provisions, provides, “It is illegal to hire illegal aliens in the United States. Notwithstanding this clear prohibition, employers around the country continue to employ illegal aliens and replace American workers with cheap foreign labor.”
Further, that background adds, “Meanwhile, instead of fighting for fair employment conditions for American workers, labor unions make it easier for employers to violate their obligations by advocating for illegal aliens. At least one labor union has declared itself a ‘sanctuary union.’”
"*" indicates required fields
Commenting on the bill and why it is so necessary, Sen. Banks explained that employers should not be allowed to push American workers out of good jobs or depress their wages with illegal aliens, saying, “Hiring illegal aliens drives down American wages and pushes our workers out of good jobs. If employers won’t follow the law, we’ll use every tool we have to make sure they face consequences.”
Similarly, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) about the bill and why he thinks cracking down on employers of illegal aliens in this manner is necessary and appropriate, the senator explained, “Employers think they can replace American workers with illegal aliens. That ends now. My Putting American Workers First Act gives authorities the tools they need to prosecute these employers and finally hold them accountable.”
Watch Trump comment on holding farmers responsible for employing illegals: