06/11/2008
State immigration reform has little local impact
By: Chris J. Cluck, staff writer chrisc@cpimo.com

Missouri's General Assembly passed immigration reform legislation last month that many in the state called for, although local officials see only a slight impact for Christian County. Posted Wed., June 11, 2008
Missouri's General Assembly passed immigration reform legislation last month that many in the state called for, although local officials see only a slight impact for Christian County.


The new illegal immigration legislation addresses a wide range of issues to help the state deal with what many see as a "growing problem," according to reports from Missouri's House of Representatives.

Awaiting Gov. Matt Blunt signature, the legislation in House Bills 1549, 1771, 1395 and 2366, ensures illegal immigrants do not receive public benefits and that municipalities do not adopt sanctuary policies that are conducive to harboring those who are here illegally.

The new law will also crack down on employers who knowingly hire unauthorized aliens and authorizes additional training for Missouri State Highway Patrol members to enforce federal immigration laws.

Specifically, the law will provide new penalties for helping an illegal obtain a driver's license by fraud, prevent so-called sanctuary cities in a driver's license by fraud, prevent so-called sanctuary cities in Missouri that would hamper law enforcement efforts to enforce immigration law, makes it a crime to transport any illegal immigrant for "exploitive purposes," including illegal labor, and cracks down on illegals receiving welfare benefits through fraud, according to the House Web site.

Missouri Rep. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, who, along with Rep. Ray Weter, R-Nixa, voted for the new law, said the legislation is reasonable.

"It's reasonable," Wasson said. "It stops just anybody alien from getting a driver's license-you have to be a citizen. As far as jobs, there may be some question as to who to hold responsible-general contractors, subcontractors. The key word in the law is 'knowingly.' It just tells (employers) to check the list when hiring. Just make sure they have proof of citizenship."

The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service estimates 22,000 illegal aliens lived in Missouri as of 2000. Experts report in the past 15 years that the estimated population of illegal immigrants in Missouri has gone up from 10,000 to more than 55,000.

Maj. Ron Replogle, Missouri State Highway Patrol criminal investigations division, said the legislation was needed from a law enforcement standpoint.

"I think it's a good thing," Replogle said. "Immigration enforcement in this country has always had limited resources. This will help especially with the criminal investigation aspect of illegal aliens."

Replogle said the training of troopers allowed in the legislation with a memorandum operational agreement between the governor and Immigration and Customs Enforcement will begin June 16 when 10 MSHP troopers will begin a four-week course in Charleston, S.C.

Once completed, the troopers will be deputized by ICE and allowed to perform many administrative duties and alien investigative procedures normally completed by the federal agency. Two of the 10 troopers are from Troop D, which includes Christian County.

Cost for the training is covered by ICE, with the MSHP only paying the troopers' salaries during training.

The Christian County Jail, Replogle said, is a designated ICE detention center through a contract between the agency and the county. When a subject located in the Christian County area is identified as an illegal alien, Replogle said, the subject is held in the jail and the county is reimbursed for the cost of the detention.

Capt. Jeremy Whitehill, Christian County Sheriff's Department, said illegal immigration hasn't been a huge concern for his department.

"If a deputy comes in contact with an illegal then contact is made with ICE to verify their in-country status. If the only crime is being illegal then the arrest must be approved by ICE. If any other crime is committed then an arrest is made anyway," Whitehill said.

Karen Potter, Christian County Health Department director, said she's seen a small increase in non-English speaking clients, but doesn't have a way to track illegal aliens.

"We don't have any guidelines to verify citizenship," Potter said. "But, the number of minorities we've helped in the Women, Infants and Children program has been around 2 percent. And, I'd say that would be the average across the board."

Aside from WIC, Potter said non-English speaking clients request several programs.

"We have so many different programs that we offer, but most of the non-English speaking clients we've helped have requested programs like the food handler's class, pregnancy testing, family planning, WIC and immunizations," Potter said.

Wasson said the part of the legislation that primarily affects Christian County is that it ensures those who pay for services are receiving the services.

"It's a reasonable answer to a reasonable question," Wasson said. "Those services are being funded by taxpayers. I think the average person expects, and should expect, those who receive those services be legal residents."


http://tinyurl.com/58hurt