New legislation targets Wisconsin companies that hire illegal immigrants

New state legislation has been introduced by a group of senate Democrats that will make companies that hire persons who are not legally in the U. S. ineligible for certain tax exemptions, governmental contracts, grants and loans.

The proposed legislation was immediately criticized by State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milwaukee) who called the bill divisive and "yet another attempt to fix the broken immigration system at the state level."

 She said the proposed legislation (Senate Bill 137) addresses "a small portion of the complex issues surrounding immigration reform" that's a federal responsibility.

"While I share the frustration that we need tough, fair and comprehensive immigration reform, I am tired of members of both political parties demagoguing on the issue of immigration reform," she said in a press release issued Friday.