Thread: Immigration bill in works in Wisconsin

Madison — People suspected of crimes in Wisconsin would have to prove they were legally in the United States or be turned over to federal immigration authorities under a bill that will be introduced next year in the newly Republican state Legislature.

"I want Wisconsin to be recognized as a state that will be on the side of Arizona," said bill author Rep. Don Pridemore (R-Hartford).

But he noted Wednesday that his bill is smaller in scope than the Arizona law that has drawn international attention and a lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice.

"This is minor in comparison of what could be done and should be done by the federal government," Pridemore said.

Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of the Milwaukee immigrant-rights group Voces de la Frontera, said any possible law would face a certain legal challenge from groups such as hers and possibly the federal government.

Neumann-Ortiz said the legal fight would be a huge distraction from other state priorities such as creating jobs and would pose a threat to the civil rights of Latinos and other minorities in the state.

"This allows for a lot of abuse for civil rights for anybody," she said. "It's irresponsible leadership."

Governor-elect Scott Walker and his fellow Republicans who will run the Legislature have said their primary focus will be on creating jobs and solving a $3 billion, two-year budget shortfall without raising taxes. But during the campaign Walker also said he would sign an Arizona-style immigration law.

Meanwhile, a top Republican leader said he could see measures even more closely aligned to Arizona's law than Pridemore's bill getting traction in the Legislature.

Under Pridemore's bill, those arrested or charged with a crime would have to show they are legally in the state with a passport, birth certificate, immigration documents or other records, if police had a reasonable suspicion they were here illegally.

They would be held in jail for up to 48 hours. If they could not prove legal presence in the state by then, they would be turned over to immigration authorities.

Pridemore noted the bill applied only to those under suspicion of violating a law. Someone pulled over for a broken tail light might have to prove his identity, but a passenger in the vehicle would not, he said.

The bill would allow citizens to sue municipalities and counties if they did not believe they were enforcing the immigration law. Those communities could pay fines of $500 a day for not complying with the law.

The bill also would prevent local governments from passing ordinances barring officials from inquiring about the immigration status of those receiving public services. Pridemore said he put that in the bill in response to a Madison ordinance, which would be automatically repealed if the bill passed.

"We're proud to be a welcoming community," said Rachel Strauch-Nelson, a spokeswoman for Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. "The new Republican majority needs to stay focused on jobs and economic development."

The Arizona bill signed into law this year is the strictest in the country. It makes the failure to carry immigration papers a crime and gives police broad authority to detain those suspected of being in the United States illegally. Arizona's law also puts requirements on employers that aren't in Pridemore's bill.

Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) said he was considering signing onto the bill.

"It sure is frustrating that the federal government under Clinton, Obama and Bush seems not to take our immigration laws seriously," Grothman said. "I have a lot of sympathy for Representative Pridemore's efforts."

Pridemore said he would introduce the bill after the two-year legislative session starts in January, but it might not be debated until later in the session.

Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester), the incoming co-chairman of the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, said Pridemore's idea has merit, but lawmakers must first focus on creating jobs and fixing the state budget. That could mean putting off the bill until fall 2011 or later.

Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau said he hadn't reviewed Pridemore's bill, but he believed such a bill could get momentum in the Legislature - as could bills that went further by replicating Arizona's law.

Jim Buchen, head lobbyist for Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, said his group would have concerns about proposals that included new requirements on employers but otherwise wouldn't get involved in immigration bills.

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said the governor-elect's transition team had not had a chance to review the bill, but he noted Walker's support for Arizona's law.

Walker initially said during the campaign that he had concerns about Arizona's immigration law, but after criticism from supporters he quickly changed positions and said he would sign such a measure.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolit ... 70368.html

State Republican plans to introduce immigration bill modeled after Arizona's bill

New bill allows police to question immigration status of anyone who commits a crime

Bob Moore

FOX6 Reporter

5:58 PM CST, November 11, 2010

WITI-TV, HARTFORD

The Republican tidal wave will hit Madison in January, and Republican Assemblyman Don Pridemore is putting the final touches on a Wisconsin immigration bill. He tells FOX6 his draft bill is modeled after Arizona's immigration law, but less tough.

Pridemore says, "The motivator is frustration of trying to get the federal government to enforce their own laws. In this case they're not."

The Republican from Harford already wrote a second draft of a Wisconsin illegal immigration bill he plans to introduce in the Wisconsin Assembly in January. Pridemore says, "Also dicouraging those people who might be leaving Arizona, looking for a more favorable state to come to, and we don't want Wisocnsin to be looked upon as favorable by these people."

Pridemore says "these people" is anyong in the United States illegally regardless of race or ethnicity.

Head of Voces De La Frontera Christine Neumann-Ortiz calls laws like this legalized profiling. Pridemore's bill would allow police to questions a person's immigration status the moment the individual runs a foul with the law. Neumann-Ortiz says, "I think it raises concerns about due process rights. It raises concerns about civil rights violations."

Anything from a traffic violation toa felony, a person would have to prove their citizenship or immigration status or else. Under Pridemore's bill a suspected illegal immigrant can be detained for up to 48 hours to give people a chance to prove they're legally in the United States."

Voces De La Frontera says it will fight the passage of a law similar to Arizona's illegal immigration bill.


www.fox6now.com

Under Pridemore's bill, those arrested or charged with a crime would have to show they are legally in the state with a passport, birth certificate, immigration documents or other records, if police had a reasonable suspicion they were here illegally.

Why not "model" the federal govt. and merely send a copy of every one's finger prints to the state, FBI and ICE. If you're here illegally, this is the "gate" you must hurdle.

The federal govt. will be doing this in every county jail, with "Secure Communities", by 2013. Some states already have it fully implemented. It's the Secure Communities Initiative. I don't understand what, if anything, Pridmore's bill will accomplish.

What we need for internal security is exactly that which AZ wants.
Whenever, a law enforcement officer suspects someone is here illegally, briefly detain them and electronically sent their prints to ICE.

We do not need a law that enables law enforcement to ask about one's immigration status. Every lawman can do this now. We need a law that compels them to take action against suspected illegal residents and not merely give them a "ticket". Giving them a ticket is NOT working, for we can't enforce our laws against residents without know their true identity.

We need voter ID laws and anyone driving w/o a DL, must be briefly detained and identified. Their car should be impounded. Drivers wo and DL and insurance must be REMOVED from the road.

Better legislation than this, is necessary.

Immigration bill takes cues from Arizona policy
By Beth Pickhard

Published: Friday, November 12, 2010

Updated: Friday, November 12, 2010 02:11

An immigration bill drafted by a state Republican lawmaker would allow police in Wisconsin to ask for identification if immigrants break the law.

The bill's author, Rep. Don Pridemore, R-Hartford, said the proposal was influenced by Arizona's immigration legislation passed in April. He said illegal immigrants are leaving Arizona for other states.

"I don't want Wisconsin to become a destination for these people," Pridemore said.

The proposed law would not require people to have legal immigration documents on them at all times as the Arizona law demands, Pridemore said. He said those who have their papers requested after a law violation will be given 48 hours to present legal documents to authorities.

"I want Wisconsin to be on record as supporting Arizona and of course to get the federal government to enforce their own laws and protect the citizens of the state of Wisconsin," Pridemore said.

Under the law, citizens would be able to sue government officials if they suspected officials were not enforcing the immigration law. Communities not complying with the law could be fined $500 per day.

Madison is the only "sanctuary city" in the state, an area that does not allow city funds to be used for immigration enforcement. Pridemore said the bill would prevent city law from impeding.

The bill is in its second draft and may be introduced to state legislators early next year, Pridemore said. He said he is unsure how soon Governor-elect Scott Walker would address immigration because job creation is Walker's number one priority.

"I think this would probably fall in the secondary priority level for the governor, but I certainly believe he will support it," Pridemore said.

In May, Walker said he was concerned with Arizona's immigration law. Later that month, he said he would sign an immigration bill similar to Arizona's.

Walker has not commented on the newly drafted bill.

http://www.dailycardinal.com/news/immig ... -1.1773504