Illegal immigration is expected to be an issue at tonight's Kennewick City Council meeting.
Craig Keller of Respect Washington in University Place wants to promote Initiative 1056, which would require noncitizens to have a valid Social Security number before being able to work, get a driver's license or receive public benefits from the state Department of Human and Health Services, including food stamps.
Keller, who said he withholds his age, occupation and where he lives out of concern for personal safety, said the initiative aims to block allowing illegal aliens in Washington from getting jobs and benefits with stolen Social Security numbers.
"I want to bring honesty back into our business and politics by addressing the illegal alien issue. It has corrupted the decision-making process," Keller said.
He is making the rounds with
I-1056. He spoke to the Seattle City Council on Monday, was in Anacortes Sunday, and plans to attend a Yakima City Council workshop on immigration next Monday.
Kennewick Councilman Bob Parks said he is not a sponsor for the initiative but knows Keller and supports the idea of making government databases available so employers can verify an employee's legal resident status. The process, called E-Verify, would use Social Security information to confirm an individual's name with a number and visa, if appropriate.
I-1056 would make it illegal for public employers and public contractors and nonprofit organizations to hire anyone who is in the U.S. illegally. It also would suspend business licenses of any private employer who willfully employees an illegal alien.
The initiative would require legal residency screening for all noncitizens before providing public benefits to them.
Keller said Respect Washington is a registered nonprofit that has grassroots support in the Tri-Cities. "It's a real mix. They include Tea Party members, Democrats and Republicans," he said.
Keller said he met Parks at an immigration forum in Everett in 2007 and has kept in touch.
The initiative must gather 241,153 verified signatures by July 2 to be considered for the November ballot.
w John Trumbo: 582-1529; jtrumbo@tricityherald.com
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House bill would prevent requiring businesses to use E-Verify
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A proposed bill in the House of Representatives would prevent state and local governments from requiring a business to use the E-Verify program.
If House Bill 2568 becomes a law, it will override the policy recently adopted by a unanimous Kennewick City Council vote, said Lisa Beaton, Kennewick city attorney.
Kennewick council to discuss using E-Verify
Kennewick council to discuss using E-Verify
The Kennewick City Council will take a second look at a proposal to require companies that do business with the city to verify that their employees have valid Social Security numbers.
The E-Verify program, as it is called, has been accepted by several Washington cities as a means of confirming that companies' employees are properly registered with the government.
E-Verify can show if there is a reason to doubt an individual's status as a legal immigrant. Lisa Beaton, city attorney, will lead the discussion about E-Verify and explain what it can and can't achieve.
Kennewick OKs use of E-Verify system
Kennewick OKs use of E-Verify system
The Kennewick City Council on Tuesday adopted E- Verify as a condition for employment and for contractors who want to do work for the city.
The electronic system verifies whether potential new hires are eligible to work in the United States. E-Verify participants fill out a form, which is checked through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. The program is voluntary and is for confirming employment authorization, not a test for citizenship.
Public entities using E-Verify cannot use it to screen applicants for a job, nor can it be used for current employees. It is available only to check a newly hired person's employment eligibility after being selected for a position.
Kennewick council poised to adopt E-Verify
Kennewick council poised to adopt E-Verify
KENNEWICK — The Kennewick City Council on Tuesday will vote on whether to adopt E-Verify as a condition for employment and for contractors who want to do work for the city.
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They were told by City Attorney Lisa Beaton that the system could save money on doing background checks for new hires.
Illegal immigrants
Illegal immigrants
I'm writing in response to the recent articles about Kennewick City Council candidate Loren Nichols' comments on illegal immigration.
I agree that saying illegal immigrants should be shot at the border may be going too far. But for anyone to say that he's targeting people of color is just false. What he's saying is that this is America, a taxpaying country where citizens contribute to the government in ways illegal immigrants cannot.
I read a letter from a former state Department of Social and Health Services worker here who verified that people don't need legal documentation to receive some benefits. Why would our government give benefits to people who don't contribute like the rest of us? I'm a hard-working American and get hardly any benefits from the government for my child for having a full-time job. I think this man can do some good for our community and help the citizens who make contributions toward the rest of the community. People need to look at the real issues -- our government is going down
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