Thread: 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.
Watch David Collins' Report
"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.



http://www.wbaltv.com/news/23311260/detail.html

He has also said that he wants a straight up or down vote and he will post the results so we can see who voted for or against it...or in other words who gets re-elected or not!!!

I can say with about 99% certainty that it won't happen here in Maryland. I hope I am wrong, but...

Yeah unfortunately you are probably right? The area I am in is so liberal that i can't walk a block to the bookstore without these young naive high school and college kids wanting me to sign petitions for ACLU, get Rush off the air, or the environment nonsense. Even if it doesn't come to fruition, at least there are some people trying to fight for the rights of us.

Uh you must be in Bethesda area. ACLU came to my door Thursday and my response was "Not a F---ing chance in Hell" to the young lady. And proceeded to explain to her why. Hey she got to get her spheel out before I could stop her so she deserved to here mine.

That's great that you could guess that in one chance....so pathetic around here....everyone is either a political poser or so rich already they are clueless as to how they are screwing their heirs...

Oh how true! Don't you just love our "progressive" property taxes. I pay more taxes on a 2 bedroom ranch in KE, than the 5 bedroom house I live in in PE, all because I rented it. And the County Council wonders why rents are so high around here, just amazing.

No they don't wonder...they know why...and all along they remove meters to lessen the number of parking spots, raise the meter rates bc they know they are going to write more tickets (and i heard they are 2nd or 3rd in gross income from meters in the country), and then hold census meetings at work centers for illegal aliens of which out of 200,000 known illegals Montgomery country has the highest population.

I wish we could get rid of Ike Legget so bad but he is so connected.

Glad to see other Marylanders here! Have you signed up for http://www.helpsavemaryland.com/ newsletter? Events around MD to support.

I'll check it out.....