Crackdown on illegals forces Irish in US out of jobs

UNDOCUMENTED Irish in the US are being forced out of their black market jobs by tough new measures to clamp down on illegal workers, according to the Immigration Rights Commission in San Francisco.

Commission chairman Angus McCarthy said the new e-verification form has forced thousands of illegals to quit their jobs.

“The e-verification number has changed the game for workers here. Under this system you have to prove you are legal to keep your job so workers are being given the option of complying, or leaving their jobs.”

E-verification requires a worker to provide documents to an employer that are then compared to Homeland Security files to assess if the person is legally entitled to work in the US. Anyone whose documents do not match up is likely to be arrested and deported.

At present it is only mandatory for employers working on federal contracts to e-verify their workers.

However, a number of industries have taken it upon themselves to implement the rules, fearing that they will be penalised in the future if they are found to be employing illegals.

The Latino community has been hardest hit as the fast food and hotel industries have been the most rigorous in implementing the system.

But Irish workers are also struggling and there is currently a bill before the house to make e-verification mandatory for all sectors.

Sponsored by Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, Bill S1196 would force all employers to fully comply with e-verification within one year.

Felix Fuentes of the Immigration Rights Commission said the construction sector is also beginning to comply with the regulations.

Construction has long been one of the most important employers for Irish illegals in the US but it now faces a major overhaul.

Employers, fearing a backlash from future governments, are becoming increasingly likely to let go of any illegals on their books.

Mr Fuentes further claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are actively clamping down on illegals in areas that have traditionally been ignored.

He said immigration and customs officials had sent hotels and fast food chains lists of workers who should be vetted.

In many cases, the employees were simply let go as they knew they would not be able to comply.

Latinos are the target of most of the ICE actions as they are by far the largest illegal immigrant population in the US.

But Mr McCarthy said Irish people are being caught up in the crossfire.