Springfield councilman wants to curb illegal workers

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- A freshman city councilman wants Missouri's third-largest city to crack down on illegal workers by fining business that hire them and revoking the city business license of repeat offenders.

Doug Burlison, a former Libertarian Party county officer elected to the council in April, said he will bring the proposal before the council soon at the request of the local chapter of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a national group that opposes illegal immigration.

The idea, similar to local codes pursued in more than 100 cities nationwide, got a cool reception from some quarters.

Council member John Wylie said the council has looked at similar ideas in the past and determined that only the federal government can legislate on immigration matters.

"It's a moot point," Wylie said. "We're prohibited from doing this. Our immigration laws say that the feds have control of this."

City Attorney Dan Wichmer agreed and added that current code already allows the city to pull the business license of any employer who acts illegally.

Police Chief Lynn Rowe said the department has its hands full and would need new money and manpower to take on the extra job of enforcing a city rule on illegal aliens.

Burlison's proposal would penalize companies $500 for a first offense for hiring illegal immigrants and $1,000 for a second offense. A company guilty of a third offense would lose its city business license.

Burlison said he's trying to "level the playing field" for businesses that don't hire illegal immigrants.

"The ones that aren't playing by the rules have an unfair advantage and can undercut bids because they pay these workers a lot less," Burlison said.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com