Thread: Immigration crackdown law passes Missouri House we will win

Immigration crackdown law passes Missouri House
By MCT Regional News
4/11/2008 4:27 PM

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri House approved wide-ranging legislation yesterday that would train Missouri State Highway Patrol officers to enforce immigration law, check the immigration status of prisoners and prompt those applying for a commercial driver's licenses to take a written test in English.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Bob Onder, R-Lake Saint Louis, is one of a number of bills offered this session dealing with the controversial topic of illegal immigration. Onder said his bill is a step toward combating a problem he said has been long ignored by the federal government.

"There's no question that the federal government needs to do some things," Onder said. "It needs to enforce existing immigration laws, and the federal government needs to secure our borders. But I do think that the bills ... really do play a role in removing the magnets and then removing the illegal aliens that we want least in our country - those that come here and break the laws."

Some Democrats voiced objections over banning so-called sanctuary cities, where people who come to police or public health officials for help are not asked about their immigration status. The idea is to encourage people to cooperate without fear of deportation.

Onder and others, however, said banning sanctuary cities is a preventative step to ensure that the state adheres to federal regulations requiring cities to enforce immigration laws. Critics said it's unnecessary and that the bill should have focused on punishing employers who hire illegal workers.

"There's not a threat or a sanctuary city in the state of Missouri - that doesn't do a lot," said House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence. "We're going to pass this bill today that will not deal with the true concerns of the state of Missouri."

Others said a ban sends a xenophobic message that immigrants aren't wanted in the state. "You are making this choice to either be bigoted or be somebody who has an open heart," said Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City.

Onder's bill ultimately passed 124-16. Reps. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, Paul Quinn, D-Monroe City, Steve Hobbs, R-Mexico, and Ed Robb, R-Columbia, voted in favor. Rep. Jeff Harris, D-Columbia, did not vote on the legislation.


http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article. ... JEFFE68646

Maria Chapelle Nadal

I can not accept the binary nature of your excuse for a statement on people in opposition to illegal immigration. I know that most immigrants are puzzled at first that Americans like a member of the squash family so much we traditionally have taken what common sense says is a vegetable and try and pass it off as desert forThanksgiving. My head however does not have the word pumpkin written on it.

added to the homepage

http://www.alipac.us/article3102.html

We need to know as soon as the Senate assigns HB 1549 to a committee so we can turn our ALIPAC troops lose on this bill.

W

At least the states are starting to get it.

To bad none of the Presidential candidates are getting it.

This is just more proof that politics begins at home, the pols in Washington are to far removed from the people, most are millionaires who have huge staffs and a gaggle of butt kissers where ever they go telling them how wonderful they are. If the average citizen rate them for pay and Bennie's with no money from PACs and lobbyists, things would change.