Hiring law takes effect Jan. 1

On. Jan. 1, Tennessee will join one other state in doing what many say the federal government does not: forcing employers to hire only legal workers.

Here and in Arizona, employers that knowingly hire illegal immigrants will be forced to fire them. Those caught again in a three-year period can lose their business licenses for one year in Tennessee and permanently in Arizona. A similar Oklahoma law will be effective in July.

“I think we’ve got a strong law. Things will probably start out slow,” said state Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, one of the law’s sponsors. “But I think by March, we are going to start seeing an increase in the number of illegals moving to other states.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona is challenging that state’s law. A federal judge on Friday refused to delay its Jan. 1 start, but an appeal and other suits are pending. At issue is whether states can impose requirements and penalties that conflict with federal law.

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Hiring law takes effect Jan. 1
The Tennessean