Analysis: Immigration bills stall in Arkansas


May 15, 2011 3:00am

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An afternoon-long hearing at the state Capitol last week over claims that illegal immigrants worked on the renovation of offices for lawmakers was the latest sign that Arkansas lawmakers found little traction this year with efforts to address illegal immigration at the state level.

The hearing of the House and Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committees did not ultimately answer the question of whether a subcontractor working on the Multi-Agency Complex hired a worker who was in the country illegally. Instead, it was a reminder that even a Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Jim Nickels, faced an uphill battle with his own immigration proposal.

Despite a push by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to address immigration, a series of proposals were rejected or stalled during the legislative session that ended last month. From efforts to crack down on contractors hiring illegal immigrants to a measure aimed at cutting off most state services for illegal immigrants, there were virtually no successes for lawmakers who said the issue needed to be addressed.

Minority Leader John Burris, who said before the session that a group of lawmakers hoped to push for immigration legislation similar what was passed in Arizona last year, said he was disheartened by the lack of movement on the proposals.

"I think the public sentiment is definitely supportive of a lot of the legislation that was proposed," said Burris, R-Harrison. "I wish I knew. I just don't think they were serious about dealing with the problem."

Heading into the session, there were plenty of factors working against any immigration crackdown winning support in the Legislature. With Democrats controlling both chambers of the Legislature, the measures faced the same long odds as other social issues that found little success in this year's session.

And recent history has not been on the side of groups pushing for a more active role in immigration from the state.

Efforts to push for stricter immigration measures have mostly fizzled in the Legislature and among voters. Secure Arkansas, a grass-roots organization, couldn't gather enough votes in 2008 to place on the ballot a measure that would have required state government agencies to verify that all those seeking benefits are legal U.S. residents.

The measure faced opposition from Gov. Mike Beebe, who said it would duplicate laws that are already on the books.

Though Secure Arkansas vowed to push for other restrictions in the Legislature, the group found little backing. It also divided its attention among other issues, ranging from the health care overhaul to fluoride in public water systems.

One of the most high-profile defeats this year came on a proposal by Rep. Jon Hubbard, R-Jonesboro, that would have prohibited most non-emergency state services to illegal immigrants. The measure, rejected by a House panel, faced heavy opposition from Beebe, who called it "mean-spirited." Hubbard in return accused Beebe of playing politics by opposing the ban.

The tiff between Beebe and Hubbard echoed a 2005 fight between then-Gov. Mike Huckabee and a Republican lawmaker over similar legislation to forbid public assistance to illegal immigrants. Huckabee called that proposal "inflammatory ... race-baiting and demagoguery."

Hubbard didn't find too much luck either with another proposal that would have banned Arkansas from administering drivers' exams in any language other than English, a proposal that passed a House panel but failed before the full House. A House committee also rejected a proposal that would have barred colleges and universities from allowing the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition, a measure that opponents said was unnecessary because it's already barred under federal law.

Nickels, D-Sherwood, faced a similar uphill battle with his proposal that would have allowed the state to penalize contractors who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Nickels' proposal, ultimately referred to an interim study, faced opposition from those who though it went too far with its enforcement while others said it wouldn't do enough to address illegal immigration.

It was while pushing for that legislation that Nickels leveled the claim that the subcontractor used an illegal immigrant on the job.

The lack of movement on immigration issues even surprised opponents, who said they had geared up for larger fights on Arizona-type legislation in the state. Steve Copley, a Methodist minister and activist on immigration issues, said he doesn't think opponents should let their guard down in future sessions.

"For the next session we'll sure be watching it closely for the concern that it might erupt," Copley said

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