Register for E-mail alerts. Comment on articles. Sign up today, it's easy.
Close
The Washington Times Online Edition

Kilgore urges penalties for employers of illegals

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry W. Kilgore said yesterday if elected he will go after businesses that knowingly hire illegal aliens.

“They are supposed to check for legal status,” Mr. Kilgore told The Washington Times. “If they are knowingly violating the law they shouldn’t be getting state contracts and they should not be getting state credits and benefits.”

His comments come one day after he debated his Democratic challenger Timothy M. Kaine over a host of topics, including the establishment of a day laborer center in Herndon that will provide services for legal immigrants and illegal aliens.

The debate was sponsored by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, whose members include local business leaders. Last night, a chamber spokesman had no comment on Mr. Kilgore’s proposal, saying it would be up to individual businesses to weigh in.

Mr. Kilgore has said officials in Northern Virginia are giving incentives to illegals by allowing such centers. One way to address the problem would be to revoke any tax credits or benefits companies receive from the state if they knowingly hire illegal aliens, he said.

Mr. Kaine said at the debate that his opponent was “mean-spirited” and that the members of the Herndon Town Council should have the right to deal with “tough public safety challenges.”

“They are elected by local people and I’m not going to grandstand over their right to make the best decision for themselves, using their own money,” Mr. Kaine said Tuesday. “The problem is a federal government that turns its back, that lets employers violate the law and then expects local governments to try to pick up the pieces.

“Jerry, there is a mean-spiritedness in your attack,” he added.

Yesterday, Mr. Kilgore responded to Mr. Kaine’s remarks: “I don’t know how it is mean-spirited to ask someone to follow the law.”

Mr. Kilgore also said if elected he would sign an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to train 50 state troopers and give them special authority to detain illegal aliens.

The executive director of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police said Mr. Kilgore’s stance is not realistic.

“We believe you need to be here legally, but in the real world we don’t have the resources to address that,” said Dana Schrad, executive director of the association that represents police chiefs in the state.

“If you take a position we’re going to launch enforcement activities to rid Virginia of all illegal immigrants, it backfires on law enforcement because we don’t have the resources to do that,” she said.

She said that authorities worry about detaining gang members and violent criminals before they worry about detaining illegal aliens who violated immigration law.

Miss Schrad also said day laborer centers are a better alternative to large groups of men standing around and potentially causing trouble for local businesses, which is one of the reasons Herndon leaders gave when they approved the center.

Story Continues →

View Entire Story
Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
You Might Also Like
  • **FILE** Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (Associated Press)

    Sanctions may be changing Iran’s nuke plans

    By Shaun Waterman - The Washington Times

  • David Wilmot, a power player in the District, is using a program to aid the economically disadvantaged to win contracts. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

    Top D.C. lobbyist says he deserves special aid

    By Jeffrey Anderson - The Washington Times

  • Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire is surrounded by legislators and others Monday as she signs into law a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. The law is to take effect June 7, but opponents are mounting a repeal effort. (Associated Press)

    Washington ballot best chance for foes of same-sex marriage

    By Valerie Richardson - The Washington Times

  • Happening Now

          Independent voices from the TWT Communities

          The Political Pro-Con

          Not your typical discussion, writer Conor Murphy writes about the cons, and pros, of politics

          A Heart Without Compromise; Advocating for Children

          Children around the globe are too often silent. From victims of abuse - physical, mental, and sexual to those whose lives embrace joy, their stories are many and need to be heard.