Immigration bills introduced
By Bob Johnson
The Associated Press

Democrats in the Alabama House introduced a package of bills Thursday aimed at controlling the flow of illegal immigrants into the state, including one to shut down businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Republicans in the House and Senate also have introduced bills dealing with illegal immigrants this session and chided Democrats for belatedly taking action. But leaders in both parties said they would not view the legislation in purely partisan terms.

Sen. Scott Beason, a Republican who has been outspoken on immigration matters, said the House bills are evidence of how much pressure the public is putting on the Legislature to act. The senator from Gardendale said he doesn't care who sponsors the bills as long as the Legislature acts.

"We've got to do something about illegal immigration. If those bills do that, I support them," he said.

Majority Leader Rep. Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill, said House leaders hope to bring the Democrats' bills up for debate later this month. Guin is chairman of the House Rules Committee, which decides what bills will come up for debate on the House floor.

Guin said his committee also will consider immigration bills that have been introduced by Republicans and put some of those measures on the House floor for debate.

"My plan is to look at all immigration bills out there that we feel meet constitutional muster," Guin said.

The bills introduced Thursday by Democrats include one by Rep. Randy Hinshaw, D-Meridianville, that would give the state the authority to revoke the business license of a company that knowingly hires illegal immigrants.

Another bill, by Rep. Locy Baker, D-Abbeville, would make it a crime to transport illegal immigrants into the state. Baker said his bill would apply to people who transport illegal immigrants in private vehicles. The bill would not apply to public transportation like commercial buses or airlines.

House Minority Leader Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, said Republican lawmakers have introduced a number of bills concerning illegal immigration.

"It's nice the Democrats have finally come around and discovered this is an important issue. We'll take a look at their bills," Hubbard said.

Rep. Micky Hammon, R-Decatur, has introduced several immigration bills.

"Our hard work is starting to pay off," Hammon said. "We've gotten the public involved and now we've got the Democrats knowing that something has to be done."

One of the bills introduced Thursday, by Rep. Lea Fite, D-Jacksonville, would prohibit municipalities from passing ordinances that would set up their towns as a haven for illegal aliens.

Another bill, by Rep. James Fields, D-Cullman, would allow police to detain individuals stopped for a traffic violation who can't prove their legal status.

House Speaker Seth Hammett, D-Andalusia, said all immigration bills, including those introduced by Republicans and Democrats, have been placed in the Judiciary Committee, which plans to consider all of the bills.
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