N.Y. County to Contractors: Prove Workers Are in U.S. Legally

May 16, 2008

A new law has been passed requiring all of Suffolk County's (New York) 17,000 licensed contractors to prove their workers are in the United States legally.

Critics claim the legislation — passed by the county Legislature — is aimed at thousands of undocumented workers.

The proposal builds on legislation enacted in 2006 that requires any company doing business with the Suffolk County government to verify its employees are in the United States legally. Now every contractor, regardless of whether they have government contracts, will need to verify workers' status.

Opponents have threatened lawsuits.