MD-Lawmaker Proposes Immigration Bill Similar To AZ
Lawmaker Proposes Immigration Bill Similar To AZ
POSTED: 5:38 pm EDT April 29, 2010
UPDATED: 6:41 pm EDT April 29, 2010
BALTIMORE -- A local delegate is pledging to push an immigration law through the Maryland General Assembly that is similar to one passed in Arizona.
Delegate Patrick McDonough, R-Baltimore County, has introduced at least 11 reform measures over the years and is leading the charge against illegal immigration in Maryland.
He's drafting another exactly like the one signed into law on Friday in Arizona requiring police to determine the immigration status of any individual who raises "reasonable suspicion" that they are an illegal alien. Police would then make an arrest without a warrant for any public offense that could cause deportation.
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"This is a replication of the federal immigration act. It's the same language -- there are no changes. This nonsense about racial profiling -- basically, there is language in the law patterned after the federal law that says you cannot engage in racial profiling and you cannot initiate a stop based on the illegal question. It has to be a secondary stop," McDonough said.
Elizabeth Alex, the lead organizer and senior manager of the Baltimore workers' center for CASA of Maryland, opposes McDonough's proposal and said she believes the Arizona bill is illegal.
"People are angry and people are outraged at what is going on in Arizona right now. People are fearful that basic civil rights are going to be violated," she said.
A recent study by FAIR, a national immigration reform group, found that in Maryland, illegal immigrants cost tax payers $1.1 billion in education, $167 million in health care and another $29 million for law enforcement regarding criminal activity.
Before McDonough pre-files his bill, he said he plans to poll legislators on where they stand on the issue.
"After July 6, when all the candidates have filed for the General Assembly and governor, we're going to do a survey and we're going to find out who supports and opposes it so the voters can make a decision before the election," he said.
It is unlikely that Gov. Martin O'Malley would sign such a bill if it crossed his desk. According to a spokesman, the governor said, "It's a federal issue. When Congress fails to act, we have rogue activity like you see in Arizona."
McDonough and Alex did agree on one thing -- that immigration reform is a federal responsibility and not one for individual states.
"We can't only enforce our way out of the problem. We need to address the issue at a comprehensive level. We need to pass comprehensive immigration reform, and we need to do it now," Alex said.
McDonough said he plans to hold a news conference on Friday to detail his efforts.
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