Corporate America Encourages and Sustains Illegal Immigration

Article by Marty Lich and Frosty Wooldridge

December 31, 2003

It is time for Corporate America to learn the three R’s. They mean: Responsibility, Respect and Repercussions.

Putting into practice the word 'Responsibility' carries the burden of accountable behavior as well as shouldering the blame when a mistake or crime has been discovered. Our US corporations must be responsible and verify their employees’ legal status. Ultimately this is their responsibility whether or not they utilize subcontractors in the course of their business operations.

Wal-Mart is a case in point. Their executives claimed they had “no idea” when confronted with the arrest of their illegal alien employees. Best known for her humor, Irma Bombeck’s children also made the same claim. She demanded, "Who ate all the cookies in the cookie jar?" Each replied, “I Dunno, mom.” Maybe an anonymous guest was responsible. Maybe the dog ate the cookies. Or, the guppy! It is time to grow up children and face the music. Claimed ignorance is not a defense in the face of the law. It makes an interesting argument for corporate America to claim ignorance when 10 million illegal aliens are supported in our country by corporations giving them jobs--while claiming, "I didn't know they were illegal aliens."

Respect for American law is crucial. Without respect for our laws, America will cease as the model of free enterprise we represent to the rest of the world. We function because of the rule of the law. These corporations enjoy their success because of our laws.

Other nations have their mandates. Mexico enforces laws that prevent Americans from involvement because it is illegal to be involved in their affairs. One is the right to own property in Mexico. American citizens do not have legal authorization from the Mexican Government to purchase property there. Mexico has laws that are respected and the United States has her laws that must be upheld here.

There are serious repercussions in America for employers that disobey U.S. law. Specific punishments under Immigration Law, Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):

In Wal-Mart’s case, three areas of this violation apply to them. The I-9 employment eligibility form was not completed. It is Wal-Mart’s responsibility to verify this documentation. It is unlawful to hire an individual for employment in the United States without complying with employment eligibility verification requirements. This is not ‘new’ news to Walmart. This corporation was aware of its subcontractor’s previous violations twice before in 1998 and 2001. Federal agents rounded up 102 illegal immigrant janitors working for Wal-Mart. Under Section 274, it is a felony to have an employer acting with reckless disregard for the legal consequences of permitting a third party to provide or introduce an illegal alien into the employer's work force. Does the "Three Strikes--You're Out" policy apply to violating employers in America? It should!

These laws are specific and written under ‘hiring felonies’ and we must demand the full legal consequences for these American corporations. Place the burden of responsibility back where it belongs. It belongs on corporate America that violates our American immigration laws by hiring and exploiting their illegal alien employees.

There are no excuses for Wal-Mart, Hormel in Austin, Minnesota, Tyson Chicken in Iowa, Quality Pork Products in Austin, Minnesota, beef processing plants in Greeley, Colorado, fast food outlets such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Taco Bells across America, paving companies in Texas and construction companies who employ illegal aliens in most major cities. Hundreds of corporations violate the law in California with over three million illegal aliens living in that state. They steal jobs from American citizens.

There were no excuses for not doing your homework or cheating on exams accepted when we attended school. "I Dunno" is not an admissible excuse in a court of law any more than Erma Bombeck accepted it as an excuse from her children.

The reason Mexico, like dozens of other Third World countries, suffers horrific corruption, chaos and misery for its citizens stems from a loss of the rule of law. Without respect and responsibility, those nations and their citizens suffer unending agony at the hands of corporate elite.

Because corporate America continues importing and hiring illegal aliens, repercussions explode across our country. Here in America, we are on the front bow of the Titanic of a crisis that grows worse by the day for American citizens. Our classrooms are overrun by dozens of foreign languages that keep our children from learning their three R's. Terrorists can walk over our border with Mexico without fear of being caught. Tom Ridge’s red alerts are a national joke. How long can we remain a viable nation with this gross loss of the rule of law?

CEO's better stop looking at their profit margin and begin looking ahead to what kind of a country they want for their children. Is chaos, disease, lawlessness and growing disorder what each of you is intending? For what? More money? What good will money be when your country turns to mud? When your society sinks into an intractable quagmire? You corporation CEO's must address your responsibilities, respect and adherence to your country’s laws. It’s your country, too, for God sakes!

We cannot and will not remain a viable nation without the rule of law. Corporations must return to the three R's. Otherwise, at some point in time, America will sink into the chaos, corruption and wretchedness of nations like Mexico. When it manifests itself like the empty cookie jar for all Americans who don’t have jobs, health care or decent schooling for their kids, there is not one single corporate CEO who hired illegal aliens who can say, "I didn't know."

Marty Lich is the Gypsum Precinct chairperson for the Eagle County Republican Party, Colorado, District Accountability Advisory Committee chairperson for 3 years at the Eafle County School District, as well as the School Advisory Committee for the Eagle County High School and retired California Public Deputy.

Frosty Wooldridge is a teacher and author who has bicycled 100,000 miles on six continents to see overpopulation up close and ugly. His latest book is: ‘STRIKE THREE! TAKE YOUR BASE’. It shows a path for teens gasping for emotional stability after personal loss.

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