By Chelsea Schilling
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
House Majority Leader Harry Reid claims there are no illegal aliens working in the construction business in Nevada – the same U.S. state that is reported to have the highest percentage of "unauthorized immigrants" in the labor force.
Responding to a Pew Hispanic Center study that shows 17 percent of all construction workers are in the U.S. illegally, Reid told Las Vegas 8NewsNow, "That may be some place, but it's not here in Nevada."
The statement came as a reporter questioned Reid about his successful effort blocking a 2009 amendment introduced by Republican Sen. Jess Sessions that would have required construction companies contracted for stimulus projects to use E-Verify – a computer program that determines whether prospective employees are U.S. citizens.
Reid did not allow the amendment to come up for a vote. Instead, he argues that the nation must reform its immigration policy.
Explaining his grounds for blocking the vote, Reid told the news station, "The reason: we need to do comprehensive immigration reform. We cannot do it piecemeal."
The reporter told Reid, "When you go to the unemployment office there's many U.S. citizens who are unemployed construction workers and they don't have specific jobs because right now, some of those construction companies find it easier to hire undocumented workers."
Reid replied, "I think that any information you have in that regard is absolutely without foundation."
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According to the April 2009 Pew Hispanic Center study, 170,000 workers, or 12.2 percent of Nevada's total, are illegal aliens – more than twice the national average of 5.4 percent.
The Washington-based think tank also estimates 230,000 illegal aliens live in Nevada and that one in 10 children in Nevada K-12 schools has a parent who is an illegal alien.
Reid's office told the news station E-Verify is inaccurate.
But the news agency noted the federal government's own contracted accountant reported that E-Verify had an efficiency rate of 99 percent. The report called that rate "an astounding affirmation of the accuracy and efficiency of the system."
