Ohio Senate votes to toughen immigration law enforcement

By Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau
5:24 PM Wednesday, March 24, 2010

COLUMBUS — Taking aim at undocumented foreign workers, Senate Republicans on Wednesday, March 24, voted for a pair of bills that give local police and sheriffs a greater role in enforcing federal immigration laws.

The Senate voted largely along party lines 21-11 in favor of a bill sponsored that directs the state attorney general to seek an agreement with federal officials to allow specially-trained local police and sheriffs to enforce federal immigration laws.

State Sen. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens, said the bill would give Ohio the ability to address a growing problem while the federal government does little to fix the immigration system.

State Sen. Sue Morano, D-Lorain, opposed the bill, saying sheriffs’ departments are already too busy handling current responsibilities such as checking on sex offenders.

“This state is made up of immigrants. We should not forget this at all. Unfortunately, the hysteria over immigration is nothing new,â€