Thread: NE-Gov. Heineman in talks about Arizona-style law

Dave Heineman in talks about Arizona-style law
By JoANNE YOUNG / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 11:26 am

While fallout from Arizona's illegal immigration law continues, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman said he has had informal conversations with state Attorney General Jon Bruning about a similar bill for Nebraska.

And Bruning is researching it.

Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont has said he plans to introduce such a bill in the 2011 legislative session. On Wednesday, his office verified that the language of the bill is similar, and Bruning is looking it over in light of a federal judge finding fault with parts of the Arizona law.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton blocked the heart of the measure and delayed provisions of it, including a section that required law enforcement to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws. She indicated the federal government's case has a good chance at succeeding in its argument that federal immigration law trumps state law.

Citing LB403, passed in 2009, Heineman said Nebraska has been a leader in the issue. Nebraska's law is aimed at stopping illegal immigrants from getting state benefits by requiring state and local agencies to verify immigration status of applicants.

The law stops short, however, of requiring businesses to do the same.

Heineman said at a Wednesday news conference that the state supports legal immigration -- but not illegal immigration and not amnesty for illegal immigrants.

He would not support implementing any illegal immigration law in such a way that it allowed racial profiling, he said.

He said he also wants to continue to look at repealing the "Dream Act," which allows children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at Nebraska's public colleges and universities.

Nebraska's illegal immigration problems may be smaller than those of Arizona, which borders Mexico, but this state has similar challenges, Heineman said.

He reiterated that the federal government has continued to fail to address the issue. Elected officials in Nebraska make tough decisions, he said, and Nebraskans expect federal officials to make tough decisions, too.

"Do your job, that's what the people are saying," Heineman said.

Darcy Tromanhauser, Nebraska Appleseed immigration program director, said she doesn't understand what is pushing the need for an Arizona-style bill in Nebraska.

At least one solid study out of the University of Nebraska at Omaha shows that the economic impact of immigrants in Nebraska has been positive, she said.

"So where is this coming from?"

Whatever the intent, the outcome of such laws as a city ordinance in Fremont that bars businesses from hiring people who can't prove they are in the country legally and landlords from renting homes to them is "clearly negative," Tromanhauser said.

It causes real harm and creates a climate of hostility and discrimination. And it's not the type of climate many Nebraskans want to live in, she said.

"It gives a lot of people pause."

Tromanhauser said the only fix for illegal immigration is on the federal level. And Nebraskans need to support a strong, forward-thinking policy.

Nebraskans, she said, need to be a part of developing a workable immigration system on the federal level "that reflects our values and moves us forward."

Reach JoAnne Young at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.

http://journalstar.com/news/local/govt- ... 002e0.html

At least one solid study out of the University of Nebraska at Omaha shows that the economic impact of immigrants in Nebraska has been positive, she said.

JUST ONE!
Look at some other studies that show tax payers support these people and cost a lot of money since they are ,for the most part,uneducated.

From what I hear Nebraska has a big problem with illegal aliens invasion

Darcy Tromanhauser, Nebraska Appleseed immigration program director, said she doesn't understand what is pushing the need for an Arizona-style bill in Nebraska.

At least one solid study out of the University of Nebraska at Omaha shows that the economic impact of immigrants in Nebraska has been positive, she said.

"So where is this coming from?"

Whatever the intent, the outcome of such laws as a city ordinance in Fremont that bars businesses from hiring people who can't prove they are in the country legally and landlords from renting homes to them is "clearly negative," Tromanhauser said.

Who pays this woman? She needs to be fired.