At least 18 states have enacted laws concerning illegal immigrants. Most of the legislation is seen as punitive, and it reflects legislators’ anger at the federal government’s inability to seal the southern border and at provisions in the Senate bill that would allow the 12 million illegal immigrants already here a path to citizenship.
Arizona - Its new law effectively sets up a two-strikes penalty. A business employing an illegal immigrant would have its business license suspended temporarily. A second offense would mean a permanent revocation of that license. A proposal would let police ask people they arrest about their citizenship status and seize them if they cannot produce proper documents. Arizona Rep. Russell Pearce (R) said Bush’s support of the guest-worker provision in the Senate bill “made me sick.” He called it “a sellout of America” and said: “I’m more than frustrated. I will do everything I can to unelect folks who sell out America.”
Arkansas - Immigration officials say a regional task force could be created in northwest Arkansas so a group of law officers from several agencies could be trained to enforce immigration laws. - still in the process of enacting legislation to force employers to verify their workers’ legal status
Colorado - still in the process of enacting legislation to force employers to verify their workers’ legal status
Hawaii - still in the process of enacting legislation to force employers to verify their workers’ legal status
Idaho—Similar measures to Oklahoma are being considered
Maryland lawmakers defeated a proposal that would have let illegal immigrants pay in-state college tuition. Lawmakers are still considering a measure that would place a 5 percent surcharge on wire transfers to Mexico.
Michigan, lawmakers considered stripping health and welfare benefits from undocumented immigrants.
Missouri Sen. Chris Koster, a Republican, said that when he tried to push a law through the GOP-controlled chamber that would force employers to verify the status of workers, his colleagues defeated it handily, expressing concern about its impact on business.
Nebraska — Similar measures to Oklahoma are being considered
North Carolina growers need immigrant workers in order to thrive, but passing legislation friendly to illegal immigrants is difficult.
Oklahoma, Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, signed by Gov. Brad Henry (D) last month, restricts illegal immigrants’ access to all forms of official identification, bars them from receiving public assistance and metes out stiff fines to employers who hire them. “Illegal immigrants will not come to Oklahoma if there are no jobs waiting for them,” said state Rep. Randy Terrill (R), who wrote his state’s law, one of the most sweeping in the country.
Oregon, where a House bill would prohibit the state from hiring undocumented workers, said its core supporters are upset by the U.S. Senate bill. “We don’t support amnesty,” said spokesman Shawn Cleave, echoing the position of the North Carolina Republican Party, which proudly said it broke with Bush on the issue.
Pennsylvania, other measures — “so many, like seven,” he said — go after employers who hire illegal immigrants and deny the immigrants themselves benefits and other services.
Tennessee - still in the process of enacting legislation to force employers to verify their workers’ legal status. Tennessee’s governor says, “it’s the Fed’s job, we aren’t doing anything.”
Virginia, House of Delegates, approved a far-reaching proposal to strip charities and other organizations of state and local funding if any of the money is used to provide services to immigrants who are in the country illegally.
West Virginia - still in the process of enacting legislation to force employers to verify their workers’ legal status
I knew someone was keeping a list ...thanks!
Interesting. Looks like they want to keep their illegals but are making sure they stay uneducated while keeping the money the illegals make from employment in the state. LOL.