The article "A New Crackdown on Illegal Workers" (U.S. News, Jan. 20) highlights the administration's plans to create a government office to oversee audits against companies that employ illegal workers. These audits, however, are soft enforcement at best. A Government Accountability Office study found that these audits are of little use, with many employers considering minor fines just the cost of doing business. In fact, sometimes these fines are less than a New York City parking ticket.
Americans don't want another taxpayer-funded government office. Instead, the administration should increase real work-site enforcement efforts, which include administrative and criminal arrests.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R., Texas)
Chairman
House Judiciary Committee
Washington
Kudos to the present administration for the recent progress achieved with respect to illegal immigration enforcement. The problem of illegal immigrants in our country can be largely solved merely by letting all employers know and believe that the federal Form I-9 laws will be enforced. No additional legislation is necessary.
Why our politicians on all sides haven't focused on this existing law is a mystery.
Thomas Delaney
St. Louis
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 