If you live in Indiana - support the politicians who made this happen!

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... -1/LOCAL17

Immigration crackdown endorsed by Senate committee

By Dan McFeely
dan.mcfeely@indystar.com

After nearly three hours of passionate and often emotional testimony from Hispanics, legal scholars and lobbyists for Indiana business leaders, a Senate committee voted 10-1 to pass a tough new illegal immigration bill that penalizes employers who hire illegal immigrants.


Senate Bill 335 -- which now moves to the full Indiana Senate for consideration -- has been labeled as "unfriendly" to the Hispanic community, many of whom believe it could lead to racial profiling, innocent victims and possibly a mass departure of workers, both legal and illegal.
The bill was opposed by lobbyists for the state and city chambers of commerce, the restaurant industry, manufacturers, Hispanic activists and a lobbyist for the Catholic Church. But legislators have said they are hearing from their constituents who say illegal immigrants are a drain on their tax dollars, a channel for illegal drugs and a matter of national security.

"This bill is not intended to be racist or to drive people out of our country," said Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte, who voted for the bill. "It is designed to be a welcoming bill" for those who want to come here legally.

But Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, cast the only vote against the bill and said he read the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution "about 12 times today" and believes Indiana is entering dangerous waters by passing an unconstitutional law.

"I am not prepared today to require that the state of Indiana secede from the State of the Union."

The bill, authored by Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, calls for stiff penalties against employers who hire illegal immigrants, punishing them in a series of steps that could ultimately lead to revoking their business license. It calls for the state attorney general's office and local prosecutors to investigate written complains about such activity. The bill also makes it a criminal act to transport or aide an illegal immigrant.

This morning, an amendment was approved to push back the effective date from July 1, 2009 to Oct. 1, 2009 and more exemptions from prosecution were added, including churches, healthcare workers, attorneys and spouses, parents and children of suspected illegal immigrants.

The bill was modeled after similar legislation in Arizona and Oklahoma, both of which are undergoing constitutional challenges. Today's testimony included national perspectives from a New Jersey constitutional attorney, Louis R. Moffa Jr., who is one of the lead attorneys in the challenge of the Arizona law; and Mike Cutler of New York, a former INS officer who testifies frequently on immigration law issues on behalf of tougher regulations. Both flew in to Indianapolis today to give testimony.

More than 50 people signed up to testify today, but the committee chairman Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, cut off testimony at 1 p.m. for a vote. Delph vowed to meet with those who did not get to speak immediately after adjournment.


Read more about this story in tomorrow's Indianapolis Star.