Thread: Ohio Republicans call for crackdown on illegal immigrants

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/n ... 191617.htm

Posted on Thu, Aug. 03, 2006

Ohio Republicans call for crackdown on illegal immigrants

MATT LEINGANG
Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two top Republican lawmakers said Thursday they intend to introduce bills that would crack down on illegal immigration and make the topic an issue in the November election.

The legislative package, dubbed the Ohio Workforce Protection and Illegal Alien Enforcement Act, is vague on details. But hearings could begin in September on bills that would limit state-assistance programs for illegal immigrants and create a new investigative unit to probe Ohio companies that employ illegals, said Senate President Bill Harris, an Ashland Republican.

Harris and House Speaker Jon Husted said their goal is to have the Republican-controlled Legislature adopt the package by the end of the year.

The federal government has jurisdiction on illegal immigration issues, but states, including Ohio, are shirking their responsibilities if they don't act, said Husted, a Dayton-area Republican.

Republicans were not shy about making illegal immigration a campaign issue.

"We have to respond to the kinds of things that voters feel their government is not doing for them, and this is one of the things that we feel is important to respond to," Husted said.

Other parts of the plan call for ensuring that illegal immigrants are not eligible for scholarships or financial aid at Ohio's public colleges and universities, imposing a $50,000 fine on people who produce counterfeit identification and withholding state business for two years from contractors who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.

Democrats said the proposals are a knee-jerk response to illegal immigration and an attempt by Republicans to divert voters' attention away from other issues, such as funding for education and job creation.

"They know that they are promising something that they can't deliver because this remains primarily a federal issue," said Senate Democratic Leader C.J. Prentiss of Cleveland.

Illegal immigration has roiled parts of Ohio, especially Butler County north of Cincinnati, where some officials already have called for a new law allowing local authorities to expel illegal immigrants. It's also the home of State Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Fairfield, who has a bill to make English Ohio's official language,

Neither Harris nor Husted could say how many illegal immigrants are in Ohio or how many Ohioans are losing jobs that otherwise would go legal U.S. residents.

Bret Crow, a spokesman with the Ohio Board of Regents, said colleges already check Social Security numbers on financial aid forms to make sure assistance is going to U.S. citizens. The state also audits the forms as a backstop, he said.

About 12 million illegal immigrants in are the U.S., according to the Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research organization in Washington. Most illegal immigrants come from Mexico and are employed in farming operations, cleaning, construction and food preparation industries, the group reports.

http://www.daytondailynews.com

House leaders plan measure to crack down on illegal immigration
By William Hershey

Staff Writer

COLUMBUS – House Speaker Jon Husted and Senate President Bill Harris on Thursday announced plans for legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal immigrants with the purpose of protecting Ohio jobs, tax dollars and publicly funded benefits such as health care.

They said they want to pass the legislation, which has not been introduced, by the end of this year. Hearings will begin in September, they said.

"This is to protect Ohio jobs," Husted, R-Kettering, said at a Statehouse press conference Thursday.

He said illegal immigrants work for salaries lower than others are willing to work for and take jobs that otherwise could go to citizens and legal residents.

The legislative leaders said they were acting partly because the U.S. House and Senate haven't agreed on legislation overhauling immigration laws.

Neither Husted nor Harris, R-Ashland, could provide an estimate of how many illegal immigrants are in the state. Both said they wanted to protect the rights of immigrants who are here legally.

However, Jose Luis Mas, chairman of the Ohio Hispanic Coalition, blasted the proposal as an effort to "persecute" Hispanics.

"I am astounded," said Mas, a Columbus attorney, Cuban refugee and American citizen.

The immigration legislation would:

• Provide money for a state investigative office that would be a liaison with federal immigration officials and be charged with ensuring Ohio employers follow immigration laws.

• Create an Immigration Ombudsman to help immigrants understand the law.

• Impose a $50,000 fine for counterfeiting identification documents.

• Require the state to pursue an agreement with the federal government to permit state law enforcement officials to arrest undocumented immigrants.

• Require state agencies and local governments to verify the legal status of any adult seeking government benefits.

• Ban state agencies and local governments from entering into contracts with contractors who knowingly employ illegal aliens.