Thread: No Action on Immigration Not Good for Nebraska

No Action on Immigration Not Good for Nebraska
Thursday 07/05/07
Will the state step in to make the immigration reform that Congress wasn't able to? That's what many are wondering after Congress was unable to find a compromise on the heated immigration debate. State Senator Ray Aguilar said it was partly because of the media. He said the media is one-sided and riles up the anti-immigration forces who negate all the work trying to be accomplished.

"They present things so that the group already against it becomes enraged, and it snowballs. Calls get made and then nothing gets done," said Senator Ray Aguilar, Grand Island Third District.

And while other states are now taking matters into their own hands, focusing on corporations that knowingly recruit illegal work forces, Senator Aguilar said he doesn't see any state action from Nebraska in the near future.

"Nebraska always waits to see what the federal guys do before making a move," said Aguilar.

Aguilar said they may be waiting a long time. Earlier this year, he tried to issue state driving certificates to illegal immigrants, but didn't get anywhere. Aguilar says it's vital that some action be taken to move forward, but doesn't see anything happening for at least a year.

Senator Aguilar said the inability to compromise by the federal government is bad news for Nebraska because a lot of people were counting on some form of immigration reform. He said the government chose to "bury their head in the sand and wait for this issue to go away." But he said the heated debate is here to stay.



Story Created: Jul 5, 2007 at 9:17 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 6, 2007 at 11:50 AM CDT

http://www.nebraska.tv/home/8345827.html

There's also a video to watch at the link.

Another magnificent representative of the American people that advocates disrespect for the law. Thankfully, Nebraskans prevailed against his wish to have illegal aliens driving amok on US highways.

Mr. Aguilar can be contacted at raguilar@unicam.state.ne.us