Thread: Immigration bills await TX lawmakers

Immigration bills await Texas lawmakers
By LIZ AUSTIN PETERSON
Associated Press Writer
http://www.elpasotimes.com/breakingnews/ci_4721773

AUSTIN (AP) Texas lawmakers are poised to pounce on illegal immigrants when they start their next session in January, filing a slew of get-tough bills including one designed to challenge the automatic citizenship of babies born in the United States.

The bill by Republican state Rep. Leo Berman of Tyler would bar the babies of illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits such as food stamps, health care or public housing.

Other proposals would tax money that is wired to Mexico or Central and South America, end a policy that lets undocumented college students qualify for in-state tuition rates, and authorize the state attorney general to sue the federal government to recover money Texas has spent dealing with illegal immigration.

It's a noticeable change from the Legislature s typically less strident approach to illegal immigration. Just five years ago the same legislative body adopted the nation's first policy of charging immigrant students in-state tuition rather than the more expensive international rate. But months of bitter wrangling over federal immigration reform and the heated campaign season that followed have changed the tone of the debate nationwide.
"Since the federal government fails to take even the most elemental and basic steps necessary to enforce immigration laws, the consequences of that are left at Texas' doorstep," said Steven Camarota, director of research for the anti-illegal immigration think tank the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates strict immigration laws.

Camarota couldn t think of other states that have considered similar bills. Louisiana s legislature approved a ceremonial resolution in April urging Congress to stop giving the babies automatic citizenship.

Democratic lawmakers and groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the League of Latin American Citizens have vowed to fight the measures, saying they're mean-spirited attacks that will prompt widespread discrimination.

With their blood already boiling over the Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch s new tough anti-immigration measures including fines for landlords who rent to illegal immigrants the battle could get ugly.

"It'd be an embarrassment for Texas to pass (Berman's) legislation," said Democratic state Rep. Norma Chavez of El Paso, who chairs the Texas House's border and international affairs committee. She called the measure un-Christian and un-American.

The proposal challenges the concept of "birthright citizenship," a long-standing federal policy based on the Constitution s 14th Amendment. The first section of the amendment says: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."

Groups opposed to illegal immigration and some conservatives in Congress say the amendment, drafted with freed slaves in mind, should not apply to the children of undocumented residents.

It's difficult to track the number of births to undocumented immigrants because most hospitals do not ask patients about their citizenship status. Based on 2002 data, Camarota estimated 380,000 a year in the United States and 62,000 a year in Texas. That amounts to one in 10 American births and one in six in Texas.

If the Texas bill becomes law, it inevitably will be challenged in court. Berman said he hopes that case makes its way to the Supreme Court and the justices reinterpret the traditional approach to citizenship.

Attempts to enact a similar federal law have failed.

The Texas bill's future is murky, especially if it is assigned to Chavez s committee. Berman could attach the proposal to another bill as an amendment, but the measure doesn t appear to have enthusiastic support from House Speaker Tom Craddick, who controls the destiny of most state laws.

"Historically, the federal government has dealt with immigration," said his spokesman, Chris Cutrone.

Still, Berman said Texas can no longer afford to lure illegal immigrants to give birth on U.S. soil by promising citizenship and access to lucrative public benefits.

"It's un-Christian of them to allow the lowest class of people to come in here and usurp all these benefits," he said. "It's crazy."

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5727127&nav=1TjD

Nov 25, 2006

Variety of immigration bills await Texas lawmakers

AUSTIN, Texas Texas lawmakers are poised to pounce on illegal immigrants when the next session starts in January.

They're filing a slew of get-tough bills -- including one designed to challenge the automatic citizenship of babies born in the United States.

That bill was filed by Republican state Representative Leo Berman of Tyler. It would bar the babies of illegal immigrants from receiving such state benefits as food stamps, health care or public housing.

Other proposals would:

-- Tax money wired to Mexico or Central and South America.

-- End a policy that lets undocumented college students qualify for in-state tuition rates.

-- And authorize the state attorney general to sue the federal government to recover money Texas has spent dealing with illegal immigration.

It's a noticeable change from the Legislature's typically less strident approach to illegal immigration. Just five years ago, the same body adopted the nation's first policy of charging immigrant students in-state tuition, rather than the more expensive international rate.

But since then have come months of bitter wrangling over federal immigration reform and a subsequent heated campaign season. That has changed the tone of the debate nationwide.

Democratic lawmakers and groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the League of Latin American Citizens have vowed to fight the measures. They call them mean-spirited attacks that will prompt widespread discrimination.

Steven Camarota is director of research for the anti-illegal immigration think tank, the Center for Immigration Studies. It advocates strict immigration laws. Camarota says he can't think of other states that have considered bills similar to Texas.

___

Berman's bill is HB28.

I just love it when they pull out the old it's an unchristian attitude when people here try to see our immigration laws are enforced. Myself, I kind of like what the bible says about obeying the laws of the land you happen to be a citizen of! Funny how enforcing our laws makes one appear to be not a Christian! As Stossell says, give me a break! Most of the time anymore when the left doesnt want to use Christians for one reason or another then its an all out war on the Christians.

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5735245&nav=1TjD

11/27/06-Tyler
Tyler State Representative Proposes Illegal Immigration Bill

For almost 150 years, if you were born in the U.S. You were an American citizen eligible for state benefits. That would change if a new bill, written and sponsored by District 6 State Representative Leo Berman, passes.

"They are violating the most basic federal laws, our laws of immigration. That is outrageous," said Berman.

Berman says it is unfair to taxpayers to have to foot the bill for "anchor babies" and their families. "An anchor baby comes in with about a half dozen other people, who are now eligible to stay and draw benefits," said Berman. "They are costing us three and a half billion dollars a year according to a study that I just went through."

Berman says there are 20 million illegal immigrants in the United States. "That 20 million number in 20 years will equal about 50 because of the birth rate and the continued illegal crossing of our southern border."

The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives any person born in America automatic citizenship. The amendment was ratified in 1868 to give citizenship to children of former slaves.

"I want to hear a federal judge say this does not apply to illegal aliens who give birth in the United States," said Berman.

He says if the law passes, children would still be able to get health care and public education. But they would not be eligible for state benefits, including medicaid, food stamps, public housing, the C.H.I.P. program, worker's compensation or wage compensation.

Community Health Clinic of Northeast Texas Medical Director Craig Gunter says the need for medical care will still be there, but the state money they receive as compensation, will not.

"If it doesn't come through C.H.I.P. or medicaid, we might have to ask for more money from the county or the city to try to help keep us open and providing services," said Gunter.

Berman says a number of public hearings would take place before the House and Senate vote on this. He says the measure would then have to be approved by Governor Rick Perry. If the bill passes, Berman expects a lawsuit would be filed, challenging whether the bill is constitutional.