States turning up heat on illegal immigrants

Reuters ^ | Thu Nov 1, 2007 11:56am EDT | Carey Gillam

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - Minor traffic violations do not usually warrant a press release from a governor.

But when state police stopped a van on a Missouri road for "following too closely" and found it was carrying 10 presumed illegal immigrants, Gov. Matt Blunt was quick to tout the incident as part of a new state program to hunt down undocumented aliens.

"We will make every effort, implement every tool, and take every step to ensure the laws against illegal immigration are enforced," declared Blunt, announcing the arrests as he pursued tough new measures to push undocumented immigrants out of the state.

Missouri's efforts are among several now being seen around the nation as state and local officials race to make their territory as unappealing as possible for the nation's estimated 12 million undocumented individuals.

The campaign has drawn the ire of religious organizations, civil rights groups and some employers, who argue the actions are unfairly harassing and intimidating both illegal and legal immigrants.

"You're starting to see this around the country. They're trying to scare people and they're saying 'We don't want you here,'" said William Sanchez, lead attorney for the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, which has filed suit to stop a new Oklahoma law that became effective Thursday.

Immigration law historically has been the role of the federal government. But Congress has deadlocked on efforts at immigration reform, frustrating those outside Washington who say illegal immigration puts a strain on schools, health care, and other community services and costs Americans jobs.

UNPRECEDENTED ACTIVITY

Forty-three states enacted 182 immigration-related laws this year, "an unprecedented level of activity," according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

More than two dozen cities and counties have also introduced measures aimed at curbing illegal immigration, though many have been turned back by legal challenges.

Measures vary widely but many focus on penalizing employers of undocumented workers, restricting public benefits, and making it hard for illegals to find places to live.

Oklahoma's new law is widely seen as the toughest in the nation, making it a felony to transport or harbor people without legal status, requires local law enforcement and businesses to enforce federal immigration restrictions, and reduces public benefits for illegal immigrants.

"Illegal aliens will not come to Oklahoma or anywhere else if there are no jobs waiting for them. They will not stay here if there is no government subsidy," said the law's sponsor, Oklahoma Rep. Randy Terrill, a Republican who believes the measure will make illegal immigrants "self deport."

Both critics and supporters said the punitive measures could prompt thousands to flee the state, a factor that has lawmakers in other states eyeing similar measures.

"We are drafting our own legislation patterned after Oklahoma," said Utah Sen. Bill Hickman. "We're developing two different groups in society - those that have to obey the law and those that don't. Society can't function very well that way."

Critics of the crackdown say local and state lawmakers have no constitutional authority to try to enforce immigration law, and the crack down is making it hard to find workers.

"Reform of immigration law should occur through Congress. It is a federal issue," said the Rev. Steve Copley, a United Methodist pastor. This week he announced the formation of the Arkansas Friendship Coalition, which opposes laws targeting immigrants. Tyson Foods Inc. and Alltel Corp. officials are among the members.

"We're a nation of immigrants and the same hopes and dreams they share are the same hopes and dreams most of us share about a good life for our families," said Copley.

In Missouri, Gov. Blunt has taken the opposite tact. Not only is he pushing state law enforcement to verify immigration status of people suspected of crimes, but also ordered audits of state contractors to ensure their employees are legal.

Over the last two months, Missouri law enforcement has arrested 85 people after immigration checks and has worked out a deal with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to designate certain county jails to hold detainees.

"This is how we're doing business henceforth," said Missouri director of public safety Mark James. "We have 1,000 highway patrol, 100 water patrol and 30 to 40 capital police officers to work on this. If we can help that cause, then we're doing something proactive."

(Additional reporting by Ben Fenwick in Oklahoma City)

[MoMagic]

Good. It isn’t necessary to deport them all. Sufficient pressure - legal and economic - can keep them moving back home or going to Canada.

[central_va]

So much good news today, I can’t take it!!!

[Mamzelle]

At some point, pro-borders groups are going to have to confront the fact that many of these "clergy" are just Don Corleones in a collar. It's going to be tough, because churches are cut so many breaks both ideologically and financially.

In my rural area, it's the big Iglesia Bautista Evangelista that fronts for bringing in masses of illegals, finding them housing, setting their kids up in the school, dealing with the crooked contractors...and, of course, collecting the "tithes and offerings."

Take a close look at churches in your home town. This is how they are organizing the invasion--through "ministers."

[montag813]

But when state police stopped a van on a Missouri road for "following too closely" and found it was carrying 10 presumed illegal immigrants

Gotta love those quotation marks. No bias here, no way.

[VOA]

Note to the illegals exiting Oklahoma.

Don’t pick Missouri for a destination.

Keep going north to Windsor, ONT or north-east to New Haven, CT.

Just friendly advise!

[dennisw]

Move em up (head em up)
Head em up (move em on)
Move em on (head em up)
Rawhide
Cut em out (ride em in)
Ride em in (cut em out)
Cut em out (ride em in)
Rawhide
Yah!
Move em on (head em up)
Head em up (move em on)
Move em on (head em up)
Rawhide
Cut em out (ride em in)
Ride em in (cut em out)
Cut em out (ride em in)
Rawhide
Yah!
Rollin rollin rollin
Rollin rollin rollin
Yah!
Rollin rollin rollin
Rollin rollin rollin
Yah!
Rawhide
Yah! rawhide!

[montag813]

"Reform of immigration law should occur through Congress. It is a federal issue," said the Rev. Steve Copley, a United Methodist pastor. This week he announced the formation of the Arkansas Friendship Coalition, which opposes laws targeting immigrants.

Yes it is a Federal issue, not a religious issue. If the Rev. Copley wants to get political his church should start paying taxes.

[VOA]

At some point, pro-borders groups are going to have to confront the
fact that many of these "clergy" are just Don Corleones in a collar.
It's going to be tough, because churches are cut so many breaks
both ideologically and financially.

The more these preachers/pastors/priest appear on major TV pimping
for the invading illegals...the better.

The one that's been on the Lou Dobbs show concerning OK is great.
He was saying last night that the judge in Oklahoma was still thinking
about issuing a temporary injuction.
I've not see a peep about that in the maybe four articles I've
seen.

(But there probably will be an injunction/reversal when the illegals
go on appeal to The Fifth Circuit in Denver.)

[montag813]

"We're a nation of immigrants and the same hopes and dreams they share are the same hopes and dreams most of us share about a good life for our families," said Copley.

Yeah, sure. I'm sure the fact that illegals are 5% of the population and 32% of violent felons is just an aberration.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

"You're starting to see this around the country. They're trying to scare people and they're saying 'We don't want you here,'" said William Sanchez, lead attorney for the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, which has filed suit to stop a new Oklahoma law that became effective Thursday.

Looks like the illegals are starting to get the message.

[Joe Boucher]

I’ll believe it when I start seeing about 80 percent of the folks in Indiantown Florida rounded up and deported.
Damn near the whole town of migrant farm workers are illegals.
But hey, they work for the Fanuel family which is big sugar and they can get away with anything.

[gubamyster]

ping

[spectre]

I hear the people up in the Hamptons pay pretty well...

sw

[beaversmom]

Just getting around to FR—what was the other good news?

[nyyankeefan]

States turning up heat on illegal immigrants...

not in nj...the guv corslimes wants to give them more & more...including drivers licenses just like his buddy spitzer!!!

[cowdog77]

Take a close look at churches in your home town. This is how they are organizing the invasion—through “ministers.”
___________________________
Don’t paint with too wide a brush....your comment doesn’t apply to our church.

[beaversmom]

That’s a great idea—lots of space up there in Canada.

[stephenjohnbanker]

12 million? There are 7 million in California alone!

[ozarkgirl]

I’ve said it many times on FR but I LOVE my governor Matt Blunt. He’s not just right on this, he is right on everything I’ve seen.

He’s still young so I hope to see him as POTUS some day.