Missouri Governor Blunt Proposes Housing Commission Action on Illegal Immigration

August 16, 2007 -- JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today sent a letter to the Missouri Housing Development Commission outlining principles for the commission to consider regarding illegal immigration that include possible sanctions of up to a lifetime ban of contractors and developers who knowingly hire illegal workers.

“I have followed some of the recent developments regarding housing development and illegal immigration,” Blunt wrote in a letter to MHDC Chairman Baalmann. “The problem of illegal immigration is a complicated and often emotional issue. I encourage thoughtful and serious dialogue such as what you are undertaking.”

In the letter Gov. Blunt proposed that the commission consider up to lifetime bans from future contracts with the state for contractors and developers who knowingly employ the use of illegal immigrants.

The governor also outlined that private employers who receive state aid and incentives should check the status of their workers using tools like the Basic Pilot program administered by the Department of Homeland Security, and those contractors or developers who knowingly use illegal workers should be subject to immediate cancellation of their contract or tax credit.

He also wants the names of contractors who knowingly hire unlawful workers to be posted so developers can know they should not use them.

Earlier this year Gov. Blunt ousted a state contractor who hired illegal workers and ordered state agencies to enact a no tolerance policy through tough new contract protections. The governor cancelled the state’s contract with Sam’s Janitorial Services and barred them from doing further business with the state after local and federal law enforcement agencies identified dozens of suspected illegal immigrants working under falsified documents.

Source: Missouri Governor

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