State Senator Kruse to Lead Legislative Study of Illegal Immigration Issue

By Peter Ambrose
Story Published: Aug 26, 2008 at 6:40 AM EDT

Story Updated: Aug 26, 2008 at 6:47 AM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A state legislative committee on illegal immigration is scheduled to meet twice next month at the Statehouse.

The committee's co-chairmen are Republican Senator Dennis Kruse
of Auburn and Democratic Representative Scott Pelath of Michigan City. They say they are considering holding other meetings around the state.

Pelath says the first meeting will focus on the scope of illegal immigration in Indiana. Kruse says the study committee needs to understand how illegal immigration affects the state economy, law
enforcement and families.

Lawmakers have struggled in the past to find common ground on
immigration. The House and Senate passed different versions of an
immigration bill earlier this year, and they could not reach a compromise before the session ended.

According to 2006 estimates from the PEW Hispanic Center, anywhere from 55,000 to 85,000 illegals live in Indiana.


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