Taking aim at illegal hiring

Selectmen are unanimously backing a change in the town’s licensing regulations to authorize the revocation of liquor licenses for businesses found to be knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. While the ordinance would not give Milford the authority to initiate its own investigations, the town counsel, Gerald Moody, told selectmen in a memo that the proposed change would give it the authority to act if a federal investigation uncovers illegal hiring practices. The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously last week to begin the process to add a provision to liquor licenses granted by the town requiring licensees to comply with all federal hiring laws. The measure still requires a public hearing, and liquor-license holders must be given the opportunity to comment. “This is the major license the selectmen issue,’’ Selectman Brian Murray said. “If we want to make a statement on illegal immigration, this is the most significant way.’’ The measure stems from public outrage following the Aug. 20 death of a Milford man whose motorcycle was struck by a pickup truck, allegedly driven by an Ecuadoran man who was in the country illegally. The charges against the driver, Nicolas Guaman, 34, include second-degree murder, manslaughter, and drunken driving in the death of Matthew Denice, 23.