Hill Impasse Spurs States to Tackle Illegal Immigration

washingtonpost. ^ | Wednesday, May 3, 2006; Page A01 | T.R. Reid

[dennisw]

State legislatures around the nation are considering hundreds of proposals dealing with illegal immigration, reflecting the exasperation of many local officials with Congress's failure to contend with millions of undocumented workers who have entered the nation in recent years.

Here in Arizona, the House passed a proposal to set fines, other penalties for companies that hire undocumented workers. The bill, which had regularly failed in previous years, is expected to win Senate approval within days and is only one of many plans under consideration.

Others include bills to erect an 80-mile fence and a multimillion-dollar radar system along the Mexican border, designed to slow the nightly flow of migrants across deserts. Another bill would require police to check the citizenship of anyone stopped for a traffic offense. The state House, by a vote of 43 to 12, has passed a resolution calling on Washington to dispatch the U.S. Coast Guard to this landlocked, coast-free state to assist in patrolling the border.

For the most part, the new state measures are designed to get tough on illegal immigrants, on employers who give them jobs and on state officials who give them benefits. In some states, illegal immigrants can buy lottery tickets but cannot collect if they win a significant prize.

At the same time, though, some states are moving in the other direction -- making life easier for immigrants, legal or otherwise. In April, Nebraska's legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto to offer in-state college tuition rates to the children of illegal immigrants. Nine other states have formally authorized tuition breaks for undocumented immigrants, and many public universities employ a "don't ask, don't tell" policy for graduates of high schools in the states.

The multistate approach, with some states at variance with others, threatens to create a maze of laws and regulations.

[dennisw]

 

Whole article here. No registration required:

LINK

[A CA Guy]

Build your own walls.

YOU CAN DO IT!

[Madeleine Ward]

Is it time to assemble state militias and secure the state borders?

[AdamSelene235]

Damn I'm tired of sending $30,000 a year to a bunch of FedGov morons who lack the spine to address the nation's problems.

[dennisw]

Matt York / AP file

U.S. Border Patrol agent Jim Hawkins instructs a group of suspected illegal immigrants who were apprehended in Sasabe, Ariz., in April.

An Honduran immigrant-to-be awaits for his meal at the House of the Immigrant's shelter in Altar, Sonora state, 90km away of the Mexico-US border. Up to 1200 Mexicans and Central Americans try daily to cross the border through Arizona, according to Father Prisciliano Peraza, who runs the House of the Immigrant in Altar. The number of illegal immigrants in the United States has grown to as many as twelve million people and they now account for about one in every twenty workers, following a recent report by the Pew Hispanic Institute.
3:52 p.m. ET, 4/4/06

Sergio Ramires, right, and others like him hold up signs supporting illegal immigrants in the United States in front of Amory Park in Tucson, Ariz., Monday, May 1, 2006.
10:56 p.m. ET, 5/1/06

Illegal immigrants prepare to be searched at a processing center in Nogales, Ariz. on Thursday, April 6, 2006. Last month an average of about 1,500 illegals per day were processed in the Tucson sector, which includes Nogales. (AP Photo/Khampha Bouaphanh)

 

[Rakkasan1]

paging presidential wannabe Governor Pawlenty...
We can try if the Congress won't.

[freedumb2003]

The backlash starts.

Schadenfreude -- it's what's for Disyunos.

[GOP Poet]

At the same time, though, some states are moving in the other direction -- making life easier for immigrants, legal or otherwise. In April, Nebraska's legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto to offer in-state college tuition rates to the children of illegal immigrants. Nine other states have formally authorized tuition breaks for undocumented immigrants, and many public universities employ a "don't ask, don't tell" policy for graduates of high schools in the states.

I am wondering which states does anyone know?

This is the direction we need to push our California Govenor. I am just concerned about paying duplicate taxes to pay for all things supporting illegals and then all things protecting us against.

Boy these illegals sure take up a lot of our country's time and money that could be better spent on roadways and any other way we see fit as citizens. Or maybe we could have it back in our pockets. They may be cheap labor for business, but not for the rest of us. That is FUR SURE!

[Liz]

The State of Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (passed mid-April, 2006):

1. Requires that a contractor or subcontractor doing business with any state or local government agency use a federal work authorization program to verify the legal status of all new hires. Effective July 1, 2007, for employers, contractors or subcontractors with 500 or more employees; July 1, 2008, for those with 100 or more employees, and July 1, 2009, for the smallest employers.

2. Establishes penalties for human trafficking. Penalties of up to 20 years in prison would be imposed for anyone involved in subjecting a person to forced labor or sexual servitude. Effective July 1, 2007.

3. Authorizes the state to enter into an agreement with the federal government to have certain Georgia law enforcement officers trained to enforce immigration laws. Effective July 1, 2007.

4. Requires that any illegal immigrant arrested and jailed for a felony or DUI offense be reported to federal immigration authorities. Effective July 1, 2007.

5. Regulates the "notarios" industry, non-attorneys who offer immigration assistance services. Effective July 1, 2007.

6. Prohibits employers from claiming wages of $600 or more paid to illegal immigrants to be claimed as a tax deduction. Effective Jan. 1, 2008. Require that a 6 percent state income tax be withheld from the wages for an illegal immigrant when an IRS form 1099 has been filed. Effective July 1, 2007.

7. Requires all state and local government agencies to verify the legal status of any adult applying for taxpayer-provided benefits. Effective July 1, 2007.

[Soul Seeker]

Another bill would require police to check the citizenship of anyone stopped for a traffic offense.

This will appeal to everyone that has been the victim of a traffic accident with an uninsured driver, or fears that occurence. [IF] enforced it'll keep more illegals off the streets in uninsured vehicles. Judging by reports of Cali traffic on Monday, may make the commutes shorter as well.

At the same time, though, some states are moving in the other direction -- making life easier for immigrants, legal or otherwise. In April, Nebraska's legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto to offer in-state college tuition rates to the children of illegal immigrants. Nine other states have formally authorized tuition breaks for undocumented immigrants, and many public universities employ a "don't ask, don't tell" policy for graduates of high schools in the states. Maryland and Virginia lawmakers considered proposals to crack down on illegal immigrants in their recently concluded legislative sessions, but none passed.

Freepers from Nebraska, state of Al Quida's favorite Hagel, and the up for election Nelson, Maryland and Virginia need to have a word with their legislators. BTW, I'm from the land of Osama lovin' Murray so I make the crack about Hagel with the long sufferance of one that can "feel your pain". Except nebraska is more conservative and with an election this fall in the Senate it's time to get a committment from the Republican challenger on the issue. Has one been made that is believable? Not sure where Steele falls on this in Maryland.