Monday, August 9, 2010

Denver mandates E-Verify of immigration status for city construction contracts

The Denver City Council voted 9 to 4 to approve an ordinance that requires construction contractors vying for city work to verify the immigration status of their employees.

The ordinance makes construction firms use the federal E-Verify program to validate new employees' immigration status as a condition of holding a city contract. The firms must also vouch for their existing employee's immigration status before being awarded the contract.

"No citizen or legal resident should have to compete with workers who are here illegally," said Councilman Charlie Brown.

"I think that's a bad place to put the city in," said Council member Linkhart