Only 38 words were devoted to the subject of immigration reform in President Obama’s State of the Union address. The reasons for this are many and valid but overall what it means to the millions of illegal immigrants in the U.S. is that reform will not be a priority, at least for this year.

However, that has not stopped lawmakers in Idaho from pushing their ideas to solve certain illegal immigrant issues that affect the U.S. economy. They are proposing two bills that will hold employers punishable by law for employing illegal immigrants as workers. The rationale behind these bills is that if employers are afraid to utilize illegal immigrants this in turn would cause the illegal immigrants to leave the state for “greener pastures”.

Another of the proposed enforcements is the strict adherence to English in the written Driver’s License tests with no interpreters allowed. This would not only affect illegal immigrants but also those who have obtained legal residency but are not thoroughly proficient in the language. Although concerns have arisen over the practicality, functionality and cost-to-state of these laws, many expect one of the bills to be put through. In the face of high unemployment throughout the United States, any vacancies that open up will be a victory for the party that created it. With fines for employers that range from $50 to $50,000 and penalties that range from two-year jail sentences to the revoking of business licenses, illegal immigrants will soon be facing a dilemma.
Both Democrats and Republicans have bills awaiting approval from the Senate.