Thread: GOP aims to flex muscle over N.C. immigration law

GOP aims to flex muscle over N.C. immigration law

BY LYNN BONNER - lbonner@newsobserver.com

Republicans now in charge of the state legislature are using their clout to push for new laws identifying illegal immigrants and limiting their use of public services.

That effort got its start Wednesday in the House Committee on the State's Role in Immigration Policy, which drew a crowd representing both sides of the controversial issue. The committee can recommend legislation to be considered next year.

For years, a legislative contingent has focused on more laws limiting illegal immigrants' access to public services - seeking to bar their admission to community colleges, for example - but they have had limited success.

Republicans won control of the legislature last year, giving their efforts new life. The wave of tough laws in other states such as Arizona and Alabama has given them another reason to act.

With other states tightening their laws, North Carolina could become a magnet for illegal immigrants, said Rep. Bert Jones, a Rockingham County Republican.

Arizona passed a law last year that made being an illegal immigrant and failure to carry immigration documents state crimes.

Alabama this year approved a sweeping law banning illegal immigrants from attending public colleges, prohibiting employers from hiring illegal immigrants, and voiding all contracts with illegal immigrants, among other provisions. Parts of the law are under court review.

No specific laws were mentioned at the committee meeting Wednesday, but the legislature has bills pending that would prohibit use of consular or other embassy documents as official identification, specify documents that must be shown to receive public benefits, and a put an identifying mark on the driver's licenses of people living in the country temporarily.

A comprehensive Arizona-style immigration bill has been filed, but has not been considered by the House or Senate.

Legislators seeking to crack down on illegal immigration tout the effort as a potential money-saver while detractors say the focus on tougher laws does little more than scapegoat Hispanics.

Though legislators and the two county sheriffs who talked about their work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to identify illegal immigrants said the efforts are not focused on Spanish-speakers or based on skin color, opponents of stiffer laws said it is clear that Hispanics are the targets.

Legislators should consider the labor and tax revenue contributed by Hispanic residents, said Ron Cox, president of Jesus Ministry of Charlotte. He attributed the increased focus on illegal immigration to the country's bad economy.

"Instead of looking for scapegoats or someone to blame, let's look for ways all of us can work together," he said. The Charlotte nonprofit brought several dozen people opposed to more stringent laws to Raleigh. Most wore stickers saying "I'm a citizen and I vote."

While Cox wanted to highlight a Kenan Institute report from 2006 that said Hispanics contributed $9 billion to the state's economy in purchases, taxes and labor, legislators were focused on figures from the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, that reported illegal immigrants cost the state about $2 billion in services, including education, law enforcement and health care.

The federal courts require states provide some services to illegal immigrants. For example, children cannot be barred from public school based on their immigration status. Some provisions of the Alabama law have been blocked by federal courts.

North Carolina has adopted several immigration laws since 2006, but none as strict as those in Alabama or Arizona.

Ron Woodard, executive director of NC Listen, offered to send Jones information on how the state could limit services to illegal immigrants without running afoul of federal law.

"I'm delighted they're doing anything," said Woodard, whose group wants to end illegal immigration and reduce legal immigration. "When Democrats were in charge, any reform was put on the back burner."

Others were distressed to see the immigration efforts gaining prominence.

Carlos Cortez of Raleigh said the state should cooperate with residents, rather than drive them out of the state.

"There are people who are next to us who are contributing to the well-being of this state, to the well-being of this nation," he said. "We are the best nation in the world. We have the worst laws dealing with immigration."

Bonner: 919-829-4821

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/12/08/ ... z1fxmCiKft

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Arizona passed a law last year that made being an illegal immigrant and failure to carry immigration documents state crimes.

This is the first time that I have seen a state law which goes beyond the federal immigration laws (Title 8 Ch. 12).

Is this a new thing in the U.S.? Is illegal presence and not carrying papers a crime anywhere else? Do all latinos have to carry documentation of immigration or citizenship, then? It sounds unAmerican to me, but I understand the good people of Arizona doing what they have to do to protect themselves from invasion, the feds being derelict of duty.

Originally Posted by MinutemanCDC_SC

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Arizona passed a law last year that made being an illegal immigrant and failure to carry immigration documents state crimes.

This is the first time that I have seen a state law which goes beyond the federal immigration laws (Title 8 Ch. 12).

Is this a new thing in the U.S.? Is illegal presence and not carrying papers a crime anywhere else? Do all latinos have to carry documentation of immigration or citizenship, then? . . .

Arizona illegal immigration law mirrors Federal law
Apr 28, 2010 –
Federal law mandates that aliens register and carry their documentation. . . One of the things that the law says is that local officials are allow to ask somebody ... speeding, they're going to ask for a license and/or some form of identification. ... inside the country must carry documentation with them at all times: . . .

http://www.youdecidepolitics.com/2010/0 ... deral-law/

Originally Posted by For the News & Observer, LYNN BONNER

While [Ron Cox, president of Jesus Ministry of Charlotte]... wanted to highlight a Kenan Institute report from 2006 that said Hispanics contributed $9 billion to the state's economy in purchases, taxes and labor, legislators were focused on figures from the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, that reported illegal immigrants cost the state about $2 billion in services, including education, law enforcement and health care.

Privatize profits, socialize costs. Funny... I don't recall W saying anything about personally receiving a $900 contribution from Hispanics (which includes citizens and legal residents, BTW), but I'm pretty sure he paid his $800 share of the cost of services for illegal aliens (which includes OTM's and not just Hispanics).

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Arizona illegal immigration law mirrors Federal law
Apr 28, 2010 –
Federal law mandates that aliens register and carry their documentation. . . One of the things that the law says is that local officials are allow to ask somebody ... speeding, they're going to ask for a license and/or some form of identification. ... inside the country must carry documentation with them at all times: . . .

http://www.youdecidepolitics.com/2010/0 ... deral-law/

Well, indeed that is way different from what Lynn Bonner wrote for the News & Observer: "Arizona passed a law last year that made being an illegal immigrant and failure to carry immigration documents state crimes."

In the absence of any mention of other crimes, her mention of illegal presence and not carrying papers implies that they are "stand-alone" crimes, which they are not... not even violations. In the absence of probable cause or some other crime, they are protected by the Amendment IV prohibition against unreasonable searches. In an ID check for some other legitimate reason, they are red flags or indicators that prompt (or require?) a call to ICE for a status check.

Originally Posted by [url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/watercooler/2010/apr/26/ariz-immigration-law-mirrors-federal-version-state/

For the Washington Times, Kerry Picket[/url]]"Let's clarify what isn't in the bill. The law does not give police officers any additional powers to stop or pull anybody over. You're still going to have to abide by lawful contact," said Bob Dane spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) , a Washington, D.C., based immigration nonprofit.

Mr. Dane made it clear that an officer of the law cannot simply walk up to an individual who is not committing a crime or traffic violation and ask the person for his or her legal status.

"You need a legitimate reason ... speeding, reckless driving. The law is predicated on the protections of the fourth amendment against unreasonable searches and seizures."

If an individual committing a violation or crime is found out to have an illegal status, the law enforcement officer will contact immigration authorities [ICE].

"They’re going to contact ICE, immigration law enforcement support center in an attempt to verify status. ICE will need to properly staff and resource themselves in order to support the new Arizona law, although I wouldn’t expect a surge of illegal aliens being identified and arrested," Mr. Dane said, pointing to Oklahoma's tough immigration laws that he says led to more "attrition" through enforcement than anything else.