Nebraska employers of illegal immigrants targeted

At a legislative hearing in Lincoln last week, several Nebraskans testified in favor of a bill to prevent companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants from receiving incentives from the state. Companies applying for business tax incentives under the Nebraska Advantage Act would have to certify that they had not knowingly violated immigration law by employing undocumented immigrants for five years before the application.

If they later were found to have knowingly hired illegal immigrants, the companies would lose all tax benefits and would have to repay any benefits they had received.

The bill (LB784) from state Sen. Gwen Howard of Omaha was considered by the Revenue Committee the same day as a proposal (LB895) from Gov. Dave Heineman to expand tax incentives to businesses that create high-paying jobs. “The solution must be shared by employers,” Howard said. Howard said she was not aware of any businesses receiving tax benefits that had hired illegal immigrants.