Ending haven for illegal aliens.

• Position: Local Policies Unfair to American Citizens, Illinois

The decision by the Department of Homeland Security to file suit against the state of Illinois for its attempt to thwart enforcement of Federal immigration laws is being applauded by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, Washington, D.C. A state law, approved by the legislature and signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, would bar employers in Illinois from using a Federal database to verify the work eligibility of prospective employees. In recent years, Illinois repeatedly has instituted policies aimed at shielding illegal aliens, maintains FAIR.

Responding to overwhelming public sentiment, the Bush Administration has begun notifying employers when workers' Social Security numbers do not match information in the government's database. In an effort to assist employers who wish to comply with laws against hiring illegal aliens, the Federal government has been encouraging them to utilize a database that allows them to verify Social Security numbers.

"Easy access to jobs in this country has long been the magnet that has drawn millions of illegal aliens here. As much as, or perhaps even more than, securing the borders, preventing illegal aliens from finding jobs is the key to reversing mass illegal immigration," notes Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "Taking steps to bar employers from using the Social Security Administration's database to verify work eligibility until that database is virtually error free is nothing more than a blatant attempt by state officials...