WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., called on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship today to investigate federal contractors' hiring of low-wage undocumented workers for Gulf Coast Reconstruction. In a letter delivered this morning to the Subcommittee's Chair and Ranking Member, Senators John Cornyn, R-Tex., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., Sen. Landrieu called for hearings into the Department of Homeland Security's response to the growing problem, and encourage more thorough action on the part of the federal government.

"I am afraid only expedited action from Congress, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor will keep these violations of law in check," Sen. Landrieu wrote.

"While the practice by subcontractors of employing illegal aliens is damaging under normal circumstances, at this time it is devastating," Sen. Landrieu continued, noting that 478,000 Americans have lost their jobs following the devastation cause by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as well as the breach of the New Orleans levees.

Last week, a group of Louisiana electricians testified before Sen. Landrieu and her colleagues after being dismissed from reconstruction efforts at the Belle Chase Naval Air Station and replaced by less-skilled, lower-wage, undocumented workers. Following their testimony, Sen. Landrieu called upon the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to dispatch an additional team of immigration enforcement officers to the region to help ensure government contractors follow the nation's labor laws and that available jobs go to those residents who have lost their jobs as a result of the hurricanes.

As a result of Sen. Landrieu's request, at least ten illegal workers employed by Halliburton subsidiaries were discovered at the reconstruction site.

"It may be time that we consider specific legislation that provides real penalties for federal contractors that violate these laws," Landrieu wrote.

The full letter is attached.