Thread: Ne - Supporters, opponents address immigration bills

Supporters, opponents address immigration bills
By JoAnne Young/Lincoln Journal StarThursday, Feb 19, 2009 - 10:46:40 am CST
The state’s Latino community turned out in force Wednesday at the state Capitol to show its opposition to two bills that would require verification of legal status to access jobs and public benefits.

Supporters of the bills turned out, too, to testify before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee at the sixth hearing addressing immigration within the past year.

Omaha Sen. Brad Ashford, who introduced a bill (LB34) that would require employers to verify legal status through the E-Verify system, said the federal government has failed to address immigration laws for two decades. It has led to discrimination against Latinos who are here legally but perceived to be undocumented. And it has created a permanent underclass of workers.

“That is absolutely and totally unacceptable,â€

At the hearing, the Rev. Dr. Chuck Bentjen of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America in Nebraska said a wave of fear in the nation is making people do and say things they normally wouldn’t. It is causing them to stand in opposition to their brothers and sisters in Christ, even though God calls them to love, he said.

The bills don’t reflect Nebraska values, he said. Instead, people ought to be rolling up their sleeves and helping their neighbors.

Want to be oh so magnanimous Reverend? Then let YOUR Church resume paying their benefits! AFTER your tax exempt status is removed.