By the terms of a bill introduced today into the House of Representatives by Congressman Patman of Texas, it would be unlawful for an individual or companies to employ aliens who have illegally entered the United States and it would also be unlawful for an employer to retain in his employ such an alien after it had been demonstrated that he was illegally resident in the United States.
For each violation of the proposed law a fine of $5,000 is prescribed which may be sued for and recovered by the United States, as debts of like amount are now recovered, in the courts. Representative Patman’s bill further provides that the person guilty of the violation may be prosecuted in a criminal action for a felony and punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $20,000 or by imprisonment of not less than a year nor more than ten years in the penitentiary, or both.
The Department of Justice, with the approval of the Department of Labor, is also empowered to pay from any fines or penalties received reasonable rewards to persons not government employes who can furnish information leading to the recovery of such penalties or the arrest and punishment as provided by the bill.
Mr. Patman pointed out that his bill was aimed at helping American labor to benefit from the coming construction program, which would be of no use to American labor if the illegally resident alien could compete for the jobs.
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