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Do you think your state needs a tougher immigration law like the one Arizona is considering adopting?

Yes, the Federal Government is not doing enough. 89%
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I'm not sure. 1%


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Republicans in Michigan, Oklahoma move to adopt Arizona-like anti-immigration laws
BY Stephanie Gaskell


Originally Published:Monday, May 10th 2010, 10:06 AM
Updated: Monday, May 10th 2010, 10:47 AM


Michigan State Rep. Kim Meltzer proposed a law modeled after Arizona granted cops the authority to determine immigration status when investigating a crime.

"We have borders in place for a reason," she said.

In Oklahoma, state Rep. Randy Terrill said he wants to enact legislation similar to Arizona's and "go beyond it" - by making penalties tougher for illegal immigrants caught with firearms.

"The states have to act because the federal government has refused to enforce our nation's borders and turned every state into a border state," he told the Washington Times.

South Carolina state Rep. Eric Bedingfield is pushing to make it illegal to hire and pick up workers on the side of the road.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe said the Obama administration has given states no other choice.

"With the federal government currently AWOL in fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities to protect American lives, property and jobs against the clear and present dangers of illegal-alien invaders, state lawmakers ... are left with no choice but to take individual action to address this critical economic and national security epidemic," he said.

Similar legislation is being considered in Minnesota, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, Missouri, Nebraska, Utah and Idaho.

Scott McInnis, a GOP gubernatorial candidate in Colorado, vowed to put tough immigration laws on the books.

"We are stopping the retreat. No more retreat. Federal government, if you are not going to do it, we are going to do it," he said during a recent local radio interview.

It's probably too late to get any of the measures passed this year, however, as many state legislatures end their session on June 1.

Last month, Arizona became the first state to enact its own tough immigration law. Set to take effect this summer, it allows police to ask people suspected of a crime to prove they are U.S. citizens or here legally.

The Justice Department said it's considering a federal lawsuit against the new law, saying it could lead to civil rights violations.

sgaskell@nydailynews.com


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