Monday, legislatures in Massachusetts introduced a bill intended to crack down on undocumented immigration in their state. The bill calls for stiffer penalties for businesses employing undocumented immigrants and for limitations to be put on the immigrants themselves.
The bill has backing from both Democrat and Republican legislators and if passed would prohibit bidding on state contracts by any company that employs undocumented immigrants and would increase penalties on businesses that knowingly allow unlicensed drivers to be vehicle operators.
Also, the bill calls for the revocation of in-state tuition for non-U.S. residents. It would also require social security numbers or federal Tax ID numbers to register a motor vehicle and it would increase penalties for those driving with fake IDs or without a license.
State Senator Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge), primary author of the bill, added language that says the bill’s supporters will push for communities’ participation in the federal immigration information-sharing program known as Secure Communities. However, Gov. Deval L. Patrick has already stated that Massachusetts as a whole will not participate, and in June, had his public safety secretary send a letter to the DHS saying as much.
