Mark Twain once said, "Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." The statement points out that all talk and no action really accomplishes nothing. Of course changing the weather would be impossible. But when dealing with illegal Mexicans in our community, there are things that can be done to help the problem.

We all hear it on the news, read it in the news papers and hear our friends and neighbors discussing the problems with illegals in our community. Their presence is costing us millions of dollars through social services, education and the judicial system. Why have so many illegals chosen to land in Loudon County? Jobs, lots of low paying jobs. So many local businesses have now hired Mexicans with no consideration as to whether they are here illegally. Business owners claim they are forced to hire Mexicans because they can't find legal citizens willing to work. In reality, the businesses can't find legal citizens willing to work for such low pay.

Local government, Loudon County, Lenoir City, Loudon, Greenback and Philadelphia combined represent by far the largest employer and user of services in the county. Given that, local government could hold the key to at least start doing something about the illegal Mexicans. Beginning in 2008, state law will beef up regulations for hiring illegals and the penalties for those businesses who hire them.

TCA 50-1-103. Employment of illegal aliens. — Effective January 1, 2008, 

(b) A person shall not knowingly employ, recruit or refer for a fee for employment, an illegal alien.

(1)  For the first violation of subsection (b), the commissioner shall order that the regulatory board or local government suspend the person's license until the person shows to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the person is no longer in violation of subsection

(2)  For a second or subsequent violation of subsection (b) occurring within three (3) years from the issuance of the commissioner's first order, the commissioner shall order that the regulatory agency or local government suspend the license for one (1) year.
 

All local governments can and should adopt regulations to require any company wanting to do business with any local government to affirm that they do not employ any illegal aliens. Any company, contractor or subcontractor working directly or indirectly for a local government found to be in violation of state law prohibiting the employment of illegal aliens will be bared from ever doing any work for local government in the future.

These are laws that could begin to make a difference. If the jobs dry up, the illegal immigrants will move on. This might not solve the problem. It might not even put a dent in the problem, but at least it's a start and local government could say they were trying to do something.