New labor rules ("no-match" regulations) make some fear decline in work force

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5655131.html

March 27, 2008, 11:13PM

By JAMES PINKERTON
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Houston industry and labor leaders say new federal rules that threaten businesses with prosecution if they don't fire suspected illegal immigrants could cripple the regional economy.

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security issued a revised version of its "no-match" regulations, which punish employers whose employees' names don't match their Social Security numbers.

The regulations are provoking such urgency among local business leaders that the powerful Greater Houston Partnership has created a nonprofit lobbying group — Americans for Immigration Reform — to battle the new rules.

Jeff Moseley, president and CEO of the partnership, said the lobbying group is also working to revive comprehensive immigration reform in Congress later this year. They plan to hire at least 10 staff members and raise $15 million to $20 million from the business community.

''We're getting a strong contribution from this work force to our economy, and the consequence of removing 1 of 10 workers would be extremely chilling to our economy — it would take it us down to our knees," Moseley said.

The partnership, a not-for-profit, private booster group with 1,800 member companies, lobbies governments on business issues important to Houston and works to bring new business to the area.

FULL story at link.