States passed record number of immigration laws in 2010

January 25, 2011

By Elizabeth Stuart, Deseret News

Frustrated with the federal government's failure to enact immigration reform, states in 2010 passed a record number of immigration-related bills.

Arizona stole the national spotlight with the controversial SB1070, which made it a state crime to be in the country illegally, but, according to a recent report by the Denver-based National Conference of State Legislatures, immigration was on the agenda for every state that met in regular session in 2010.

"State legislatures will continue to step forward and create local solutions without comprehensive federal legislation," William Pound, NCSL executive director, told American City & County. "In the long term, immigration policy requires federal reform, and states look forward to working with the federal government to find effective solutions."

Forty-six state legislatures and the District of Columbia passed 346 immigration-related laws and resolutions. They considered 1,400. In 2009, 44 states enacted 333 laws and resolutions.

Ann Morse, director of NCSL's Immigrant Policy Project, expects 2011 will be another record breaker.

"Every indication I get is, they're not done," she (told the Seattle Times.

Top issues of 2010 included: employment, law enforcement and identification cards. A searchable database of all immigration-related laws is available online.

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