Thread: Miss. House begins debate on immigration bill

11:48 PM, Mar. 14, 2012

By Jeff Amy, Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (WTW) — Mississippi House members began debating a measure to step up enforcement against illegal immigrants Wednesday, but only after leaders removed more controversial provisions.

A provision that allowed law enforcement officers to ask about a person's immigration status in a traffic stop was removed by House Judiciary B Chairman Andy Gipson, a Braxton Republican. That means someone would have to be arrested for another offense before inquiries could be made.

Gipson also removed a provision that could have allowed municipal utilities to refuse power, water, sewer and other services to illegal immigrants. Such a provision was recently blocked by a federal court in Alabama. Last month, Gipson removed some other provisions blocked by courts.

The removal did little to mollify critics, who continued to question whether the bill was needed. Opponents emphasize that Mississippi doesn't need to summon any ghosts of its racist past, and say the effort to restrict immigration is driven by animus.

Mississippi has a relatively small illegal immigrant population, although it appears to have grown in recent years. The Pew Hispanic Center estimated that in 2010, the state had about 45,000 illegal immigrants out of nearly 3 million total residents.

The bill is supported by Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican who has been campaigning against illegal immigration since his days as state auditor. Proponents say the state spends more money providing services to immigrants than it reaps in taxes, and claim that illegal immigrants, if they leave, will vacate jobs that unemployed citizens can take. They say the bill is about legal compliance and that they welcome legal immigrants.

Gipson denied any racist intent, saying he had helped start a Hispanic ministry at a church nearly 20 years ago.

"I have been accused of being a racist," he said. "I reject that."

Gipson earlier added an amendment that allows any church or religious organization to minister to "immediate basic and human needs." He told a questioner Wednesday that a soup kitchen could feed an illegal immigrant every day and not run afoul of the proposed bill. But Gipson said that, "if the question is 'Can they harbor these people?' the answer is 'No.'"

If the bill passes the House, it will go to the Senate for consideration.

Miss. House begins debate on immigration bill | Herald Times Reporter | htrnews.com

Mississippi House Passes Immigration Proposal
by Bobby Harrison/Daily Journal
6 hrs ago


The House -- continuing to work past midnight as they rushed to meet today's deadline to pass legislation out of their chamber -- debated the controversial proposal for more than two hours.

"This bill is not profiling, starving... any person," said Judiciary B Chair Andy Gipson, R-Braxton. "It is about the rule of law...It is against the law to be here illegally in Mississippi."

Rep Ed Blackmon, D-Canton, said, "This bill will displace families...I wonder if this bill lacks the full measure of Christian compassion most of us espouse to."

Gipson offered and passed amendments on the floor that he said were designed to take out any constitutional challenges of the bill. He said various federal courts have blocked portions of similar laws passed by other states. He said those portions, such as requiring "papers" of a person believed to be in the country illegally, had been removed from the proposal considered by the Mississippi House.

He called it "the most compassionate" of the various anti illegal immigration proposals considered across the country.

"Your bill has no provision...to show any compassion to children who will be left behind," said Rep. Kelvin Buck, D-Holly Springs.

The bill says a law enforcement officer, when arresting a person must check for the immigration status if "a reasonable suspension exists." Language requiring a law enforcement officer to check for immigration status when making a stop was removed.

An amendment, opposed by the leadership, was approved removing a requirement that school districts be required to verify whether their students are legal residents of the country.

The bill would allow lawsuits to be filed against so-called sanctuary cities that have a policy of not checking for immigration status.

Various agriculture-related groups have expressed concerns that they depend on immigrants, many of whom might be illegal, to perform various farm-related jobs. Similar legislation in Alabama, they say, had negative impact on the ag industry.

Read more: djournal.com

djournal.com

Above article added to the Homepage
http://www.alipac.us/content/mississ...-proposal-265/

Rep Ed Blackmon, D-Canton, said, "This bill will displace families...I wonder if this bill lacks the full measure of Christian compassion most of us espouse to."

Edward Blackmon, Jr.
District 57 - Madison
Attorney

Twitter isn't getting used enough, why it's an important tool is because these congress members don't know if you're a constituent or not! And it's the 2nd fastest way to say "You Suck!" or "I love you!"

https://twitter.com/#!/edwardblackmonj

"Your bill has no provision...to show any compassion to children who will be left behind," said Rep. Kelvin Buck, D-Holly Springs.

Kelvin Buck
District 5 - Benton, Marshall
Coordinating Director - ABC 24 News
https://twitter.com/#!/kelvinbuck
Kelvin Buck | Facebook

The unemployment rate for Mississippi as of Jan. 2012 is 9.9% nearly 2% above National average! You do the math!