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Anti-immigration policies filed in Kansas and Missouri

By Nick Peterson

Missouri and Kansas legislators may soon have to rule on newly proposed immigration legislation. As the legislation contains items which are of concern to immigrant-right advocates, Kansas City-based El Centro, Inc., and Sons and Daughters of Immigrants recently organized lobbying visits to the capitals of each state.

On the morning of Tuesday, January 23, around one hundred Kansas Citians met downtown for a briefing and breakfast followed by a bus trip to either Topeka, KS or Jefferson City, MO to visit with policy makers. The day’s mission was to meet with legislators, committee leaders, and policy staff in order to both understand their stance on immigration policy, and to show them that their constituents are concerned with anti-immigration policy.

In Kansas, the proposed legislation includes: two different official English bills; a surcharge guest-worker tax for all non-citizens; bills which prohibit probation and require higher bail for undocumented immigrants who commit a felony; and two different bills which effect the requirements for a driver’s license.

Many proposals are queued for Missouri. Senate Bill 384 includes, among other things: prohibitions on hiring undocumented immigrants; restrictions on public benefits such immigrants may receive; restrictions on landlords renting to these immigrants; and requirements that local law agencies enforce immigration law. Additionally, legislation that would bar undocumented students from enrolling in college, require English-only Commercial Driver’s License exams, and criminalize employers who hire undocumented immigrants is awaiting deliberation. Finally, seven different English-only bills, one of which seeks to amend the MO Constitution with an English-only clause, are on file.

“We think that there’s a lot more stuff coming,” said Melinda Lewis, Director of Policy Advocacy and Research for El Centro, Inc., when speaking about the bi-state legislatures. Regarding Tuesday’s excursion, she said, “It was our goal that as our elected officials vote on these things that they’ll keep our faces and voices in mind. I don’t know that there is a real desire on the part of Kansans or Missourians for these kinds of policies.”

Lewis, who helped organize the day of lobbying, explained that attendees were grouped into teams which met directly with legislative representatives of local districts. The volunteers were equipped with packets of information for both educating themselves and providing a resource to legislatures on the impact the immigration measures would have.

As for bi-state anti-immigration legislation and immigration advocates she said, “As advocates, we should let our voices be a part of the discussion to let our legislatures know that many people in the public don’t believe these strategies are effective or constructive.”

For more information about assisting in immigrant advocacy or for upcoming events, contact: Melinda Lewis, Director of Policy Advocacy and Research for El Centro, Inc. at (913) 677-0100 ext. 212. She is bilingual.