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Immigration Reform Faces New Obstacle

By the News-Register



Government — at least at the federal level — has established itself firmly as part of the problem, not the solution, concerning immigration reform. State leaders from throughout the nation learned last week that not only is the federal government refusing to act on the problem — but it also will block states from doing so.

During the annual meeting ot the National Conference of State Legislatures, held last week in Nashville, Tenn., immigration reform was discussed. Throughout the country, states are passing their own laws intended to crack down on illegal immigrants.

But NCSL analyst Ann Morse told those in Nashville that their work may be for nothing. A federal law, enacted in 1986, prohibits states from imposing penalties against illegal immigrants that are more strict than those prescribed in federal law, she explained.

“The federal government decided it was too complicated for the states to enact their own competing laws on this,” Morse added.

“Competing” with what? With Washington’s near-total abdication of responsibility concerning illegal immigration?

Immigration reform is a complicated subject that won’t be resolved by a knee-jerk reaction, those at the conference were told by another speaker.

No one argues about that. But neither Congress nor President Bush have taken meaningful, realistic initiatives to address the problem. Leaders in the states should not allow themselves to be intimidated concerning the issue