Howard County Executive Ken Ulman said he found out his housekeeper was an illegal immigrant Aug. 2 and fired her that day.
“I am disappointed I made a mistake,” he said Tuesday. “It never occurred to me to ask” if she was here legally.
Ulman thought to ask his housekeeper when a Baltimore Sun reporter inquired about her status. He called his wife, who was told by the woman that she was not here legally, county spokesman Kevin Enright said.
The woman worked for the Ulmans for about six hours each Monday since February 2006. She was paid $110 each day for her services and brought her own equipment, Enright said.
She cleaned several other houses in the area and came recommended to the Ulmans.
Under the law, Ulman wasn?t obligated to ask her immigration status, but once he learned she was an illegal immigrant, he had to let her go, Enright said.
However, Ulman didn?t file a 1099 tax form for contract work until four days after he fired her, Enright said. He could face a fine for the late filing.
“I made a mistake and corrected it as soon as I found out, and I am moving on,” Ulman said.
According to the IRS, a household worker is self-employed if that person bringshis or her own tools and provides services to the public.
Even if this person is a housekeeper and not an live-in or full-time employee, the employer should verify the worker?s Social Security number and identification, Columbia-based immigration lawyer Juliet Maynard-Wester said.
“Legally, they should, but the problem is no one does it really,” said Maynard-Wester, who added that she was not involved with nor familiar with Ulman’s case.
A few politicians have run into trouble after revelations of employing illegal immigrants, but it?s not likely to have an affect on Ulman?s popularity or career, said Richard Vatz, a conservative rhetoric and communications professor at Towson University.
“I don?t think the consequences will be devastating to him,” he said. “I would speculate he?s not the only person in this situation.”
