Thread: Lack of U.S. immigration reform forcing states to act

http://www.krvn.com/news/index.cfm?ID=18973

Lack of U.S. immigration reform forcing states to act, study says


OMAHA, Neb. (AP) _ A new study of five states says the rapid
growth of immigrant populations has forced state and local
governments to tackle the accompanying problems while federal
lawmakers struggle to overhaul U-S immigration laws and policies.

Experts and lawmakers say the federal government must decide
what to do about the more than 11 million illegal immigrants in the
U-S before state and local governments can resolve the issues that
affect them locally.

The study by The Century Foundation analyzed immigration
politics in North Carolina, Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota,
which have all seen big increases in immigrant populations during
the past decade.

U-S Senator Chuck Hagel said through a spokesman that by not
passing comprehensive immigration reform, Congress is failing the
American people.

U-S Senator Chuck Hagel said through a spokesman that by not
passing comprehensive immigration reform, Congress is failing the
American people.

The US Congress will destroy the United States if they do.

Just secure the borders, enforce existing immigration laws and IMPEACH ANY PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT that fails to do those two simple things until we get ones who will.

It's very simple, Congress.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/ ... TE=DEFAULT

Dec 5, 4:39 PM EST


Lack of U.S. immigration reform forcing states to act, study says

By OSKAR GARCIA
Associated Press Writer


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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Rapid growth of immigrant populations has forced state and local governments to separately tackle accompanying problems while federal lawmakers struggle to overhaul U.S. immigration laws and policies, according to a study of five states released Tuesday.

Experts and lawmakers say the federal government must decide what to do about the more than 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. before state and local governments can act - favorably or unfavorably - toward immigrants.

The study, commissioned by The Century Foundation, analyzed immigration politics in North Carolina, Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota, which have all seen significant increases in immigrant populations during the past decade.

The Century Foundation is a nonprofit focused on American public policy research.

Local and state lawmakers around the country have addressed problems including housing, education and health care and have urged Washington to change rules that haven't changed much since the 1996 immigration reform.

"For years, we have deferred the hard decisions required to fix our porous borders and our broken immigration system," U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel said through a spokesman. "States like Nebraska have paid a heavy price for our neglect. By not dealing with comprehensive immigration reform, Congress is failing to do its job and failing the American people."

Hagel said through the spokesman he is hopeful that Congress will pass comprehensive immigration reform when it reconvenes in January.

Earlier this year, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue signed into law one of the toughest immigration bills in the country. The new law requires adults to prove they are in the country legally when they seek many state-administered benefits and penalizes companies for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

"The responsibility for securing the borders is a national responsibility, and when that is not taken care of by the federal government, it is left unfortunately up to states to take measures of their own to try to protect their own interests," said Dan McLagan, Perdue's spokesman. "It places an additional burden on what are already strained resources."

In the meatpacking town of Worthington, Minn., police say they pull over drivers without licenses every day - mostly immigrants who work in the area. Minnesota lawmakers earlier this year debated stiffer penalties for fake documents and whether to deputize state authorities to enforce federal immigration laws.

"I call Minnesota a schizophrenic state," said Katherine Fennelly, a professor of public affairs at the University of Minnesota who contributed to the report.

"We have people who when asked about the contributions of immigrants talk about the notion that they're taking jobs that no one else wants, and that they're contributing to cultural diversity and that they're hardworking," Fennelly said. "Then we have people - close to 50 percent - who are worried that they're hurting the quality of life, putting demands on the schools or draining resources."

In Nebraska and Iowa, state governments encouraged immigrants to fill work shortages. In 2001, Gov. Tom Vilsack's welcoming of immigrants resulted in people from all over the world making a beeline for the state. He later signed a law during a re-election campaign that declared English the state's official language, a move Vilsack has said he regrets.

In 2000, then-Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns signed a meatpackers' bill of rights that promoted decent conditions for workers in meatpacking plants. The document also affirmed workers' rights to organize, regardless of immigration status. A November study found, however, that little has changed on the lines and relatively few workers know about the document.

"It's the political climate that makes it hard, especially in a state like Nebraska, for political leaders to get more serious - to roll down their sleeves and say, 'You know what, this is not about some inane discussion about legal or illegal,'" said Lourdes Gouveia, director of the Office of Latino/Latin American studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and contributor to the report.

"This is about what we need to do to incorporate these workers and these families that we so desperately need here," Gouveia said. "I think what prevents them (politicians) from doing that is again that political climate that has turned nationally toward that more anti-immigrant side."

Calls to Vilsack seeking comment were not immediately returned

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On the Net:

The Century Foundation: http://www.tcf.org .

"The responsibility for securing the borders is a national responsibility, and when that is not taken care of by the federal government, it is left unfortunately up to states to take measures of their own to try to protect their own interests," said Dan McLagan, Perdue's spokesman.

Bolded is the most compelling statement of the first article. I wonder... just what the terms of the "corporate" agreements between states and the federal government consists of. I'm thinking breach of contract. Apparently states can't secede anymore but seems to me a "breach of contract" would certainly create a gapping loophole which in the hands of an honest broker might accomplish the same end.

With regard to Vilsack... caution presidential hopefull who likes to flip flop but then I forget that doin' the flip flop is a prerequisite for most aspiring politicians.

Originally Posted by Mayday

U-S Senator Chuck Hagel said through a spokesman that by not
passing comprehensive immigration reform, Congress is failing the
American people.

WTH kinda twisted logic is that? Oh, right, repeat after me, repeat after me, repeat after me...say it enough, they'll believe the twisted logic!