Thread: MO:Blunt touts illegal immigration reform in Branson

Blunt touts illegal immigration reform in Branson

Chad Livengood • clivengood@news-leader.com • May 23, 2008


BRANSON — Gov. Matt Blunt stopped in Branson on Thursday, touring local attractions, making the city "Capitol for a Day," and touting new legislation cracking down on illegal immigrates.

The new legislation puts into law policies first proposed by Blunt to prohibit illegal immigrants from obtaining driver licenses, getting welfare benefits, prohibit the creation of sanctuary cities in the state and require all public employers to register and use an employment verification system.

"We passed good legislation to curb illegal immigration in our state," Blunt said at a news conference outside Branson city hall.

State government has conducted more than 10,000 verification checks on its contracted workers, Blunt said.

The bill makes the transport of illegal immigrants a felony. Those found guilty could get up to one year in prison, Blunt said.

Democrats took issue with sanctuary city provision in the House because Missouri has no declared sanctuary cities, which are cities where police ignore federal immigration laws. Blunt said it's never been suggested by Republicans that there are sanctuary cities, but the law is meant to prevent any Missouri city from being soft on immigration enforcement.

The legislation, sponsored by first-term Rep. Bob Onder, allows the state to void contracts for contractors if they knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

House Bill 1549 also requires every person incarcerated in the state of Missouri pass an immigration status check by the Department of Homeland Security, a practice Blunt started mandating last summer.

Since August, 253 illegal immigrants have been detected entering or currently residing in Missouri prisons, said Major Ron Replogle, commander of the criminal investigation bureau of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

"We're verifying everybody's status, regardless of the color of your skin," said Replogle, who stood by Blunt during the news conference.

The legislation also authorized the Missouri State Highway Patrol to send 10 troopers to get trained as federally deputized Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

"It gives ICE 10 more officers in the state of Missouri," Replogle said.

Those troopers leave on June 23 for federal training in Charleston, S.C. and will return on July 11, Replogle said.

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Related thread:
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-116692-matt.html+blunt

Envy some states like Missouri!