Petition Circulating in Washington State Seeks Ballot Spot for Immigration Measure

State Flag of WashingtonWith the July 2, 2010 submission deadline approaching, individuals in Washington are trying to collect 241,153 signatures to place an immigration-related measure on the November ballot, reports the Seattle Times. Employment-related provisions of proposed initiative I-1056 (pdf) include:

  • Requiring all employers, after making an offer of employment, to verify the individual’s eligibility to work in the United States, using programs such as E-Verify.
  • Making it an unlawful employment practice to terminate a U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident applying for naturalization, when an illegal alien is employed at the same job site or in a similar position at a different site.

Since 2006, similar measures have failed to get certified, and the chances for a 2010 measure are slim, given the campaign’s lack of funds and the absence of major party support for the measure.
 

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