The Gwinnett Commission voted Tuesday night to require companies seeking county contracts to verify that all of their employees are legal US residents.

The board also voted to have county auditors to periodically inspect the records of companies hired to do county work and question their employees.

Critics warned the commissioners that the new contracting policy would be unconstitutional and usurp the federal government's power to regulate immigration.

They also argued that requiring companies to turn over personnel document and question employees could violate federal privacy laws.

But the four commissioners voting to approve the new law expressed frustration with the lack of action by Washington.

The commissioners revised an existing ordinance that governs the process through which companies can bid for county projects. It also would apply to subcontractors.

The local government contracts with private companies to provide a wide range of county services, including construction of roads and providing food and medical care for jail inmates.