Thread: MS - Big push for immigration bill (HOUSE BILL 488)

Big push for immigration bill

clarionledger.com
Jessica Bakeman

Latino of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson and Bishop Roger Morin of the Biloxi diocese spoke against the legislation at a separate news conference Wednesday at the Capitol.

Gov. Phil Bryant (center) speaks for pro immigration legislation with supporters from the Mississippi Federation for Immigration Reform and the Mississippi Tea Party during Wednesday's news conference at the state Capitol in Jackson. House Bill 488 would require immigrants to carry documents showing that they're legally in the United States. / Greg Jenson/The Clarion-Ledger

Supporters of the Alabama-style proposed immigration legislation argued at a Capitol news conference Wednesday that illegal immigrants are taking jobs from Mississippians, bloating the state's 10.4 percent unemployment rate.

"There are an estimated 90,000 illegal immigrants in our state, and over 133,000 Mississippi citizens have actively looked for a job in the past two months and are still unemployed," said Rodney Hunt, president of the Mississippi Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement.

"We believe more jobs will open up for Mississippians as a result of House Bill 488."

The bill has passed House Judiciary B Committee and must be passed by the Education Committee before Tuesday's deadline to make it to the House floor for a vote.

Gov. Phil Bryant, who spoke in favor of the bill at the Capitol, said if the federal government continues to ignore its own restrictions on illegal immigration, states will be forced to enact local laws, such as this one, to do so.

Opponents retort state officials shouldn't pursue what the nation's leaders don't.

"It's not the state's place to decide who is legal and who is not legal," Bishop Joseph Latino. "It's the federal government that' s supposed to oversee that."



Latino of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson and Bishop Roger Morin of the Biloxi diocese spoke against the legislation at a separate news conference Wednesday at the Capitol.

Bryant and other supporters deny criticisms that the legislation would lead to racial profiling or that it was geared toward "ethnic cleansing."

"This law doesn't profile anyone," Bryant said.

"This law applies to everyone - not just people who are south of us or Hispanic by descent.

"But look at the crime and violence that we now see in Mexico," he continued. "South of the border of these United States lies a country that seems to be in chaos."

Bryant added to his defense that he has twice visited Mexico on mission trips with his Methodist church, during which he helped to build a medical facility in La Joya.

Supporters of the Alabama-style proposed immigration legislation argued at a Capitol news conference Wednesday that illegal immigrants are taking jobs from Mississippians, bloating the state's 10.4 percent unemployment rate.

"There are an estimated 90,000 illegal immigrants in our state, and over 133,000 Mississippi citizens have actively looked for a job in the past two months and are still unemployed," said Rodney Hunt, president of the Mississippi Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement.

"We believe more jobs will open up for Mississippians as a result of House Bill 488."

The bill has passed House Judiciary B Committee and must be passed by the Education Committee before Tuesday's deadline to make it to the House floor for a vote.

Gov. Phil Bryant, who spoke in favor of the bill at the Capitol, said if the federal government continues to ignore its own restrictions on illegal immigration, states will be forced to enact local laws, such as this one, to do so.

Opponents retort state officials shouldn't pursue what the nation's leaders don't.

"It's not the state's place to decide who is legal and who is not legal," Bishop Joseph Latino. "It's the federal government that' s supposed to oversee that."

Latino of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson and Bishop Roger Morin of the Biloxi diocese spoke against the legislation at a separate news conference Wednesday at the Capitol.

Bryant and other supporters deny criticisms that the legislation would lead to racial profiling or that it was geared toward "ethnic cleansing."

"This law doesn't profile anyone," Bryant said.

"This law applies to everyone - not just people who are south of us or Hispanic by descent.

"But look at the crime and violence that we now see in Mexico," he continued. "South of the border of these United States lies a country that seems to be in chaos."

Bryant added to his defense that he has twice visited Mexico on mission trips with his Methodist church, during which he helped to build a medical facility in La Joya.

Source: Big push for immigration bill | The Clarion-Ledger | clarionledger.com

"It's not the state's place to decide who is legal and who is not legal," Bishop Joseph Latino. "It's the federal government that' s supposed to oversee that."

Perhaps the Bishop would like to call our President and suggest that the federal government do their job.

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

Perhaps the Bishop would like to call our President and suggest that the federal government do their job.

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Perhaps the Federal Government should call the Vatican and tell them they are NO LONGER TAX EXEMPT!

Opponents retort state officials shouldn't pursue what the nation's leaders don't.