Session does little on illegal workers
Immigration - The Legislature, like Congress, is mired on the tough issue near the session's end
Saturday, June 23, 2007
JANIE HAR
The Oregonian
SALEM -- Despite hours of debate, the Legislature is hurtling toward its final days having failed to make significant strides in curbing illegal immigration.

Lack of action may not be surprising, given that Congress has been deadlocked on the issue. But many Oregon legislators -- both Republicans and Democrats -- campaigned on promises to get tough on undocumented workers and the businesses that hire them.

Democrats and Republicans, mostly in the House, introduced at least three dozen pieces of legislation dealing with everything from making sure illegal immigrants don't get public benefits to forcing employers to check Social Security numbers. A bill granting cheaper college tuition to undocumented students -- an idea with traction in past sessions -- didn't even merit a hearing. The tone was decidedly unfriendlier toward illegal immigrants than in past sessions.

The House endorsed eight bills and nonbinding memorials related to immigration, pushed by Democrats anxious to strengthen their record on an issue bound to crop up in next year's election. They voted to punish employers with illegal workers on the payroll, and to ask Congress to reimburse Oregon for jailing convicted criminals who are in the country illegally.

However, most of the legislation died in the Senate, which didn't have the appetite to do more than vote to restrict licenses to citizens and other legal residents.

"This is the kind of problem everyone wants someone else to solve -- or for it to go away," says Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem. "This is not one of my favorite topics."

Lawmakers in every state introduced more than 1,170 bills and resolutions related to immigrants and refugees, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. That's twice the number as last year -- and a clear sign that more states are feeling pressured to make up for congressional inaction.

"This is now a 50-state issue, as compared to 10 years ago when this was confined to border states," says Sheri Steisel, the group's immigration expert. "There is a tremendous desire at the state level for the federal government to act on immigration."

In Oregon, lawmakers punted on what appeared to be the most pressing question: whether to comply with a new federal law requiring states to check the citizenship status of drivers. Oregon is one of a handful of states that doesn't require "legal presence," and if lawmakers don't change that next year, they risk Oregonians not being able to use their licenses as identification to board commercial flights.

Legislation to comply with the national driver's license law -- the Real ID Act -- stalled as the two chambers fought over how best to complain about the federal mandate. Gov. Ted Kulongoski and the House wanted to comply; the Senate rejected the program as a violation of states' rights, even though it agreed to link driving to legal status.

Practically speaking, it's unlikely Oregonians will be turned away from flights next spring, which is when the new law is scheduled to kick in. State officials have to apply for an extension this fall, and legislators will need to take up the issue when they meet in special session in February.

But Russ Knocke, Department of Homeland Security spokesman, says federal officials are not looking to pick a fight with a state the needs more time.

That means the federal government would start enforcing the new license law in May 2013.

"The vote on the House floor gave Democrats cover for the election. The vote in the Senate was a true representation of where the majority is," says Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro. "It moves us toward Real ID, while at the same time sending the message that we don't like it."

House Democrats, who hold a 31-29 lead over Republicans, rejected the accusation that they took up immigration-related bills to gain political points with voters in swing districts. It's not their fault the Senate squelched their ideas, they say.

"I've adopted a tough but fair stance on illegal immigration, and I've tried to carry that forward this session," says Rep. David Edwards, D-Hillsboro.

The centerpiece of House Democrats' anti-illegal immigration scorecard is a bill to criminalize human trafficking; that looks to have the best shot at clearing the Senate and becoming law.

Opponents of illegal immigration started the year optimistic that legislators would at the very least limit driver's licenses. "They can come out and pontificate all they want on an issue . . . knowing full well those bills will never see the light of day. But it looks good when they run for re-election," says Jim Ludwick, president of Oregonians for Immigration Reform.

On the other side, Francisco Espericueta, coordinator of the student group Latinos Unidos Siempre, wanted Democrats in charge to reject the driver's license law, extend in-state tuition to undocumented students, and ignore legislation that smacks of singling out illegal laborers and their families.

"It all comes back to the votes. If they feel their position is in jeopardy, they will play it safe," he says.

"They will not be the leaders we need in Oregon."

Janie Har:503-221-8213; janiehar@news.oregonian.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonia ... xml&coll=7