Triple Rise In Number Of Illegal Immigration Laws Passed In 2007
June 9, 2008 2:25 p.m. EST

Vittorio Hernandez - AHN News Writer
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - States across the U.S. are stepping up their anti-illegal immigration drives with a wide range of action from new laws to stricter implementation of existing legislation.

Congressional inaction on the immigration law has spurred local authorities to lead the war against illegal immigration. On the legal front, 1,562 bills related to illegal immigration were filed in 2007 and 240 became law in 46 states. That is thrice as high compared to the number of similar measures approved in 2006, the National Conference of State Legislatures said.

It includes the classification in Mississippi of holding a job by an illegal immigration as a felony and providing a roof over the head or transporting undocumented aliens also a felony in Oklahoma.

A number of states sent their police officers to attend the federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement training designed to trap and boot out unwanted foreigners. Many states have reported increased number of illegal migrant worker arrests, even for non-violent and minor offenses such as fishing without license in Georgia, which is punishable by deportation.

The strict implementation of immigration laws under the Operation Streamline program of the has led to a substantial decline in border crossers at the U.S.-Mexico boundary.

Critics of the program said instead of wasting so much money on running after individual violators of the immigration law, it should focus on American employers who take in undocumented aliens.

The continuing raids on establishments likely to harbor illegal immigrants has torn residents in states with many aliens. Donna Tucker, executive director of the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce explained, quoted by the New York Times, "These illegal aliens, people welcomed them with open arms because they were working hard, they were helping our community. But from a chamber standpoint, you're operating on the side of the law. It's a hard thing."
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