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€