Senate Affirms Delay of Illegal Hiring Penalty

WASHINGTON —  The Senate today narrowly reaffirmed its vote last week that would delay for four months new penalties on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

By a vote of 47 to 43, the Senate turned down an attempt by Sen. Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyo.) to allow another vote on the delay.

Simpson said the delay would “send the wrong signal and that signal will be, ‘Keep coming illegally’ because we’re not serious about controls.”

The penalties, which could include up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for each illegal alien hired, are at present scheduled to take effect June 1. The penalties are part of landmark immigration reform passed by Congress last fall to stem the wave of illegal immigration into the United States.

The proposal by Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.) would delay the penalties until Oct. 1. The Immigration and Naturalization Service opposes the four-month delay, although it last week essentially agreed to a one-month delay by announcing that it will not issue any citations until July 1.

“The INS is not prepared,” DeConcini said. “They already moved it on their own by one month. Isn’t it good government and common sense to delay it for four months?”