Thread: TN: State sees big increase in laws aimed at immigration

State sees big increase in laws aimed at immigration
The Tennessean
Katie Allison Granju, Producer
Last Updated: 3/13/2007 1:16:21 PM


By JENNIFER BROOKS
Staff Writer - THE TENNESSEAN

Immigration policy used to be a federal matter, but a growing number of states, counties and even cities are ready to take matters into their own hands.

Across Tennessee, local lawmakers are trying to make it difficult or impossible for illegal immigrants to make a living.

There are proposals that would make it a felony to employ an illegal immigrant, rent him an apartment, sell him a car or give him a lift across the state line. The number of illegal-immigration bills introduced in the state legislature doubled this year, to more than 40.

Many of those bills are in limbo right now, waiting for a federal district court to rule on the legality of a crucial test case - the Hazleton, Pa., city council's attempt to make it a crime to employ or rent housing to an illegal immigrant.

To its critics, the Hazleton ordinance - like similar proposals in Nashville and Clarksville and in the Tennessee legislature - is a violation of federal law. They worry that it would turn ordinary citizens into immigration enforcement agents and could cause landlords and employers to turn away legal immigrants, rather than risk running afoul of the law.

"Lots of landlords or employers are not going to allow someone who has dark skin to rent from them or find employment in their city because of laws like these," said Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee. The ACLU brought the legal challenge that landed the Hazleton ordinance in court.

Federal policy criticized

If there's one thing both sides in the debate agree on, it's that current federal immigration policy isn't working.

"If the federal government continues to show a lack of will on immigration issues, local governments will feel pressure to do something about it," said Stephen Fotopulos, policy director for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, which has been tracking the recent boom in immigration bills with concern.

Theresa Harmon, co-founder of Tennesseans for Responsible Immigration Policies, has been in close contact with Hazleton officials. The court challenge, she said, has strengthened that mayor's resolve to take a local stand against illegal immigration.

"The federal government is so horrible on this issue," she said. "They're moving in a direction that is diametrically opposed to what most Americans want."

But do Americans want to take on the job of checking backgrounds and scrutinizing visas themselves? The proposed legislation would shift responsibility to a broad swath of ordinary Tennesseans, in cluding employers, landlords, police, health-care workers, adult education teachers, jailers, driver's license office workers, car dealers and even church bus drivers.

Efforts bring backlash

"The issue's coming to a boiling point," said state Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, author of several immigration bills that would crack down on immigrant driver's licenses, empower the Tennessee Highway Patrol to enforce immigration law and require proof of status before immigrants could access government services.

Ketron represents four counties. Officials from two of those counties have approached him, he says, in hope of introducing similar bills at the county level.

The explosion of local ordinances has sparked a backlash from immigration-friendly communities as well.

More than 50 cities and counties across the country have passed "sanctuary" policies. They prohibit employers and others from asking about immigration status. Some ban the use of state or local money to check on immigration status.

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.as ... ider=gnews

Tennessee has been really moving lately! Let the momentum spread!