Kobach's immigration advocacy in Top 10



Posted: May 31, 2012 - 11:12am

By Tim Carpenter
THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Kansas' secretary of state made a bipartisan pro-immigration organization's list of the 10 "worst anti-immigration" politicians in the country.

Kris Kobach, elected in 2010 as the state's top elections official, has taken a prominent role in developing state laws to combat influx of illegal aliens and in defending local units of government from lawsuits challenging ordinances designed to make it difficult for undocumented workers to live in their communities.
Kobach also served as an adviser on immigration policy to the presidential campaign of Republican Mitt Romney.

Immigrants' List included on the roster high-profile Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio and little-known politicians such as Tennessee Sheriff Daron Hall, who had a pregnant undocumented woman shackled while giving birth.

The organization highlighted activism displayed by Kobach in shaping immigration policies that run contrary to some business interests.

“When you’re paying higher prices for food this fall – stretching your paycheck even further – you can thank Kris Kobach for writing the bill that is costing you more money,” said Immigrants’ List board member Ted Ruthizer.

“There’s a reason that farmers and small business owners are up in arms about Kobach’s extreme legislation: it hurts American businesses and prevents jobs from being created. His cynical exploitation of fear may help him further his political career with national headlines, but it damages our economy and hurts working families.”

In Kansas, Kobach convinced the Legislature and Gov. Sam Brownback to adopt a citizenship standard for voting. Other elements of Kobach's anti-immigration agenda have been resisted by the state's business lobbying groups.

Immigrants’ List defines itself as an organization dedicated to immigration reform that unites families and promotes fair employment practices.

In addition to Kobach, Arpaio and Hall, the group included on the list Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, Arizona state Rep. Judy Burges, Mississippi state Rep. Becky Currie, Georgia state Rep. Matt Ramsey, New Hampshire state Rep. Larry Rappaport and Frederick County, Md., commissioner Blaine Young.
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