Missouri Lawmakers Get Tough With Illegal Immigrants
Last Edited: Wednesday, 09 Apr 2008, 9:11 PM CDT
Created: Wednesday, 09 Apr 2008, 9:11 PM CDT
. By Charles Jaco

(KTVI - myFOXstl.com) --
Missouri lawmakers continue going after illegal immigrants.

The state house Wednesday voted to require Missouri Highway Patrolmen to get federal training to enforce immigration laws.

And the state senate passed a bill to keep illegal’s from attending state universities and from being hired.

Meanwhile Governor Matt Blunt has ordered law enforcement to detain any suspected illegals and then deport them.

Hispanic activists say the crackdown is racial profiling or just plain old racism.

Supporters of the get-tough measures say they're acting because the federal government won't.

The senate bill would also make Courtney Prentis, a worker at Catholic Charities, a felon.

That's because it would make it a felony to knowingly help an illegal, which is what Catholic Charities does daily in St. Louis.

Last summer Governor Blunt took things into his own hands. He issued an executive order requiring state law enforcement officials to also act as immigration agents. It's called detain and deport.

So Hispanic leaders, fearing the order represents racial profiling, met with city, county and state police officials Wednesday night. Does Blunt's order mean all Hispanics will now be asked for their papers every time they see an officer?

In St. Louis County, at least the answer is no.

What this all comes down to is fear. Fear in the Hispanic community that they'll be targets, and fear in Jefferson City of illegal immigration.
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