Chertoff Defends Immigration Enforcement

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says he feels the pain of employers pinched by intensified efforts to control illegal immigration, but adds that until Congress enacts broad immigration reforms they shouldn’t expect any changes in enforcement.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Chertoff said this week that the rising complaints from businesses offer some evidence the Bush administration’s approach is working.

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Chertoff sharply criticized businesses that complain the crackdowns on their hiring of illegal immigrants will cost them money. In a federal court case last year, groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce argued that the department had failed to account for the economic impact of new regulations on businesses.

The argument “basically suggests we can’t enforce the law because it will prevent people from making money illegally,” Chertoff said. “The business community loves it (hiring illegal immigrants) because you have illegals, you pay them less, they have no place to go to complain.”

It sad that such an article has been written, and sadder still that Chertoff had to defend enforcing the law.

The mostly ignored story is that most of us who support strict enforcement of illegal immigration are strong supporters of legal immigration.