Thread: NE:Legislature Looks at Immigration Options- Updated

Published Wednesday December 10, 2008

Legislature looking at immigration options

BY CINDY GONZALEZ
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Nebraska lawmakers could choose a heavier-handed approach to illegal immigration by, say, tasking local police with enforcing federal rules.

They also could lean another way and direct more money toward integration efforts like English classes for foreigners.

Or they could create a special driver's license for illegal immigrants --- a move supporters say would make streets safer but critics believe would reward scofflaws.

All are expected to be possibilities discussed Friday during a hearing hosted in Lincoln by the Legislature's Judiciary Committee.

Committee members, who held roundtable talks in a half dozen Nebraska communities this year, are seeking public input on how the state should respond to illegal immigration, an issue typically considered to be the federal government's responsibility.

State Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha, committee chairman, said he is convinced now, more than ever, that the state should intervene. As Congress continues to neglect its responsibility to update immigration laws, he said, taxpayers are demanding action from local officials.

He called the status quo unacceptable.

"We're complicit in creating an underclass," Ashford said. "It's not good in the long run for illegal immigrants nor is it good for people who have worked hard to become citizens."

The hearing is at 9 a.m. Friday at the State Capitol, Room 1524.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10511056

Why is it when we have an immigration article in Nebraska it's always written by Cindy Gonzalez?

Neb. hearing on illegal immigration is heated

KTIV Local News
Associated Press - December 12, 2008 2:25 PM ET

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A hearing about a new report on a statewide policy for illegal immigrants offered a taste of the divisive debate that could occur when the Legislature convenes next month.

One state senator says, though, that the testimony offered him more clarity on the heated issue.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Brad Ashford says testimony taken Friday has him seeing how little coordination there is with federal officials. He says that at the least, the state needs a plan for local law enforcement officials to follow when they arrest an illegal immigrant.

The three-hour hearing drew nearly 200 people from both sides of the issue. Several urged lawmakers to leave enforcement to federal officials but said the state must address integration issues.

http://www.ktiv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9512146

On the Net:
Nebraska Legislature, http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov

Center Stage for Immigration Debate
Judiciary chair favors E-Verify program, but balks at law enforcement training program

by Samuel McKewon

December 12, 2008

Story image 1

File Photo
Omaha Sen. Brad Ashford

Bill Ekeler noticed it almost immediately after the signs around his business went up.

When Ekeler, CEO of Overland Products in Fremont, posted notifications that he would use a federal E-Verify program to determine whether prospective employees had viable Social Security numbers, job applications quickly dropped.

“It became clear that you’d better have those documents to work here,â€

Lawmakers Pitch Immigration Crackdown
Plan Would Force All Employers To Use E-Verify System

POSTED: 7:37 pm CST December 12, 2008
UPDATED: 8:02 pm CST December 12, 2008

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Some Nebraska lawmakers said the state can no longer ignore the issue of illegal immigration and are considering a plan that would require all businesses to verify the immigration status of anyone they hire.

A report by the Legislature's Judiciary Committee said Nebraska is quickly becoming divided into two groups: one that enjoys the rights of citizenship and one that works and contributes but can never progress in society.

"We are not going to be complacent in a system that creates an underclass of workers," said Sen. Brad Ashford.

Ashford wants state companies to check the status of new hires through the federal E-Verify system. Fremont businessman Bill Ekeler said just posting E-Verify signs in business windows is already proving to be a deterrent.

"(They're) sending a very strong sign to illegal immigrants that Fremont is no longer a safe haven with no consequences," Ekeler said.

Lawmakers said they're looking for ways to defuse the growing resentment that's building against illegal immigrants in some communities. They're also considering creating an ID card or a special driver's license for undocumented workers.

Last year, Gov. Dave Heineman pushed a bill to prevent undocumented workers from receiving state or local benefits. Last summer, Fremont leaders narrowly rejected a proposal to outlaw renting homes or apartments to illegal immigrants.

"We need to do everything we can to get every single illegal immigrant out of this state," said Omaha resident Tim Vaughn.

"Denying these workers the right to belong, then summarily disposing of them after they have used up their bodies and excluded them from citizenship rights seems inconsistent with our values," said University of Nebraska-Omaha professor Lourdes Gouveia.

There are some questions about the accuracy of the E-Verify system and whether requiring its use will make a difference because most major employers already use it.

"They are really going to get farmers or the small contractor," said Sen. John Wrightman.

But others said the state needs to do something.

"Your job as elected officials is to make sure the few jobs you have in Nebraska are held by citizens and legal immigrants who have the right to work," said immigration reform advocate Susan Tully.

http://www.ketv.com/news/18268759/detai ... a&psp=news

Aguilar concerned about burden on local police of immigration enforcement
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By Harold Reutter
The Grand Island Independent
Posted Dec 12, 2008 @ 10:56 PM

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GRAND ISLAND — Work prevented Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island from attending Friday's hearing on immigration reform for Nebraska.

But Aguilar was able to get a report from his staff about the hearing.

After hearing that report from his staff, Aguilar said he believes Sen. Brad Ashford will propose a bill requiring Nebraska businesses to use E-Verify, a federal online system operated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to help determine the employment eligibility of new hires.

Some people have suggested that other potential legislation that the Nebraska Legislature might consider includes having local police departments enforce federal immigration laws and providing more direct money for English classes to help immigrants assimilate into American society.

Aguilar had his doubts about legislation requiring local police departments to enforce federal immigration laws.

He noted that most police departments don't want the responsibility, with many police chiefs believing their officers already have enough work to do.

Aguilar noted that before police departments can enforce federal immigration laws, its officers must have training.

"Who is going to pay for that?" he asked.

During Friday's hearing, some people suggested that police departments not be given the job of enforcing federal immigration laws.

They argued having that responsibility could destroy relationships built between police departments and local immigrant residents. The fear is that immigrants would become reluctant to report crimes to police.

That could allow some offenders to escape apprehension or notice, perhaps endangering all residents in the community.

Aguilar said that as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Ashford will have a great deal of influence on what legislation is considered by the full Nebraska Legislature.

Aguilar said he was told that at times, Friday's hearing became relatively heated. He said that when a person from the Nebraska Catholic Conference was talking, someone from the audience had to be told to take his seat.

Aguilar said he believes state senators will be able to keep debate about new immigration laws civil. He believes debate on the topic might be less civil when it comes from some Nebraska residents.

Because of the state's term limit laws, Aguilar could not run for re-election and will not serve in the 2009 Legislature. But as Nebraska's first Hispanic state senator and because of Grand Island's large immigrant population, Aguilar remains interested in the topic.

Mike Gloor was elected in November to succeed Aguilar and will begin serving in 2009. Gloor could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon

www.theindependent.com