Corrections for not less than one year and pay a fine of not less than $1,000, or both.”

McDaniel said the state law can be enforced – “with a little courage on the part of state agencies.”

“For too many years, illegal immigrants have used fraudulent documents to take advantage of the federal government's flawed I-9 process, so I was pleased to see the government finally take some action against the illegals who are violating our immigration laws,” McDaniel said.

“I hope the E-Verify system mandated by state law, SB 2988, can provide employers some assistance in making determinations of legality.

“However, there are no perfect pieces of legislation, and I have little question that certain special interests will attempt to modify the act. Of course, minor modifications may be needed from time to time to any piece of legislation. But it is imperative that the act continue to have the strong enforcement mechanisms necessary to end the employment of illegal immigrants in Mississippi. It must continue to remain a strong deterrent to illegal immigration.”

Enforcement mechanisms of E-Verify include:

• Employers violations can result in the cancellation of state or public contracts, resulting in eligibility for another contract for up to three years.

• There can also be the loss of licenses or permits granted by any government entity in Mississippi for the right to do business in the state for one year.

• The employer will be liable for any costs “incurred by the agencies and institutions of the State of Mississippi, or any of its political subdivisions, because of the cancellation of the contract or the loss of any license or permit to do business in the state.

• “It will be a felony for any person to accept or perform employment for compensation if the person is an unauthorized or illegal alien. Upon conviction, a violator will be subject to imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than one year and pay a fine of not less than $1,000, or both.”

Following the passage of the bill, McDaniel wrote in March, “In passing SB 2988, the legislature has acted to protect Mississippi’s taxpayers. The State’s financial resources have been stretched to the limit in an effort to absorb the demands of those who have violated the law to enter the country, and then break the law again by accessing public resources and jobs to which they have no legal entitlement. It is our hope that SB 2988 inhibits the influx of illegal immigrants into the State, thus saving our taxpayers millions of dollars.”

McDaniel said the state law will not apply in the Howard case unless there are violations which can be proven that occurred after the law went into effect on July 1.