Immigrant advocates decry new Missouri law
Matt Sepic, KWMU

ST. LOUIS (2008-08-22) Immigrants' rights advocates in St. Louis are speaking out against a new state law that goes into effect next week.

Among other things, the measure requires state troopers to be trained in federal immigration law. It also punishes employers who hire illegal immigrants and denies funding to cities that enact sanctuary policies.

Jorge Riopedre, Chairman of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in St. Louis, said the law will intimidate even those immigrants who are in the United States legally, and it targets Hispanics.

"This we believe will cause a chilling effect within the Hispanic community, because they don't want to risk any kind of contact with officialdom, whether that be government or the police force," Riopedre said.

Supporters of the measure say it is not meant to encourage racial profiling, but the lawmakers who passed it say action on the state level is necessary because the federal government is not enforcing its immigration laws adequately.

Both supporters and opponents of the state law say Congress should pass comprehensive immigration reform.

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