Pa. House to revisit immigration control
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

By Tracie Mauriello, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau



HARRISBURG -- House conservatives are renewing their attack on illegal immigration with a package of bills they expect to unveil today.

The bills would prevent illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits, increase law enforcement and allow the state to revoke licenses from hairdressers, landscape architects and other professionals who hire illegal immigrants.

Their actions come as the U.S. District Court in Scranton is reviewing a law in Hazleton, Luzerne County, to limit immigrants.

"When people come to this country illegally, it hurts those that are here legally," said state Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, a primary sponsor of the legislation. "There is a direct impact on our pocketbooks and our safety, and it's a violation of the law."

The American Civil Liberties Union downplayed Mr. Mustio's economic concerns.

"As many who have studied this issue know, immigrants are essential to a growing economy in Pennsylvania. These bills could hurt the economy of Pennsylvania," said ACLU spokesman Larry Frankel.

Mr. Mustio -- along with Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, Tom Creighton, R-Lancaster, and Scott Perry, R-York -- expects to unveil the bills during a news conference this morning at the Capitol.

Similar legislation was introduced last year but never came to a vote. This year's proposal goes further by adding the license-revocation penalty.

"People expect professionals to hold certain standards and they should be held to that," Mr. Mustio said.

Fueled by controversy over Hazleton's immigration ordinance, House Republicans' renewed effort may have more momentum now.

Hazleton is embroiled in a civil lawsuit challenging the legality of its ordinance that imposes fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and denies business permits to employers who hire them.

At issue is whether local governments can act on their own, usurping congressional power over immigration policy.

State government should leave immigration to the feds, too, Mr. Frankel said.

"The real solution to the problems these representatives want to address is comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level," he said.

"Trying to micromanage immigration law at the local and state level is not an effective way of dealing with what is truly a national issue."

Supporters of the House reform package say Congress isn't doing enough to keep illegal immigrants out.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07080/771163-85.stm