Immigration check tied to business licenses

By PATRICK FOX

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gwinnett County is contacting more than 26,000 local businesses asking for compliance with a new state immigration law. The county is required to check the immigration status of all applicants for business licenses.

Board Chairman Charles Bannister said the law requires all applicants to be either U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, qualified aliens or non-immigrants, as defined in the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act.

All businesses, corporations, LLCs and partnerships registered in Gwinnett will receive the letter. Applicants must return a signed, notarized affidavit before they can renew online or receive a 2010 business/occupation tax certificate. Those who are not U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents must also submit paperwork to establish their status, which the county will verify through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, operated by the Department of Homeland Security.