Ken Schram: Unlikely allies working on immigration reform bill
SEATTLE -- Immigration reform is a contentious issue.
There's pretty much general agreement that it's needed, but the devil's in the details as to what such reform should actually look like.
It's interesting then that we've got some unlikely allies working together on a state bill designed to prevent more local state jurisdictions from using a federal program that checks on workers immigration status.
E-Verify is an internet program that can tell an employer if the person they're about to hire is in the U.S. legally.
About a dozen cities and counties here in the state have adopted the program.
The bill being considered by the state legislature is meant to keep others from putting the E-Verify program into play.
And in an unusual move, farmers have hooked up with immigration advocacy groups to support that bill.
The advocacy groups, in part, point to errors in E-Verify.
The farmers are focused in on their need for labor.
It's an uneasy alliance, but serves to underscore the complicated, and often convoluted, issue of why immigration reform is so necessary and why we will never make headway on that issue until the U.S border is controlled and secure.
In the interim, I hope the farmers and immigration groups succeed in helping get the bill passed.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also hook up with Ken on Facebook.
There's pretty much general agreement that it's needed, but the devil's in the details as to what such reform should actually look like.
It's interesting then that we've got some unlikely allies working together on a state bill designed to prevent more local state jurisdictions from using a federal program that checks on workers immigration status.
E-Verify is an internet program that can tell an employer if the person they're about to hire is in the U.S. legally.
About a dozen cities and counties here in the state have adopted the program.
The bill being considered by the state legislature is meant to keep others from putting the E-Verify program into play.
And in an unusual move, farmers have hooked up with immigration advocacy groups to support that bill.
The advocacy groups, in part, point to errors in E-Verify.
The farmers are focused in on their need for labor.
It's an uneasy alliance, but serves to underscore the complicated, and often convoluted, issue of why immigration reform is so necessary and why we will never make headway on that issue until the U.S border is controlled and secure.
In the interim, I hope the farmers and immigration groups succeed in helping get the bill passed.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also hook up with Ken on Facebook.
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