Thread: Good news, bad news on illegals

Good news, bad news on illegals
The Washington Times : August 10 , 2007

http://numbersusa.com/news?ID=8573

"The sheer number of bills introduced -- 1,404 between January and July -- testifies to the size of the void Congress created. All 50 legislatures have considered illegal immigration-related bills this year; 41 states have enacted 170 immigration-related laws." It's no surprise that state legislatures are stepping up to address illegal immigration. This is an attempt to do the job the Congress won't.

More than two-and-a-half times as many bills pertaining to immigration have been introduced in state legislatures this year than last year; more than twice as many laws have actually been enacted. These laws, as detailed by the National Conference of State Legislatures, address illegal immigration in several categories, including employment, access to public benefits, education and driver's licenses.

The sheer number of bills introduced -- 1,404 between January and July -- testifies to the size of the void Congress created. All 50 legislatures have considered illegal immigration-related bills this year; 41 states have enacted 170 immigration-related laws.

Many are basic. An Arizona law signed in March by Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, prohibits the hiring of undocumented workers and requires that employers check a prospective employee's legal status on a federal database. A Colorado law enacted in March requires an applicant to show proof of legal status before getting public welfare benefits.

Not all legislation is aimed at restricting illegal immigration. Tennessee enacted a law in June criminalizing employment of an illegal alien, making it no longer merely a civil offense. Illinois legislators, on the other hand, sent legislation to the governor that would prevent discrimination on the basis of citizenship, as well as barring employers from using a federal database to check a prospective employee's citizenship until such time as the database is more reliable.

The survey covers only state legislation. The town of Hazleton, Pa., was rebuked last month by U.S. District Judge James Munley, a Clinton appointee, who overturned a Hazleton law and said immigration and border security laws are the responsibility only of the federal government. Hazleton appealed. The mayor of Hazleton said his town is cracking down on illegals because the federal government won't.

This is the message the states are sending, loud and clear, to the government they created. That the Bush administration is withdrawing some National Guard troops assigned to the U.S.-Mexico border after demonstrated success curbing illegal immigration is disheartening. The drawdown, which began July 1, is occurring in California, Texas and New Mexico, as well as Arizona, which is the most popular corridor for illegal aliens and drug smugglers.

When Congress returns from its August recess, it should take up immigration reform that enforces border security and rejects both the amnesty provision that killed the legislation last time around and Sen. Arlen Specter's "amnesty lite" proposal of "green card" status for illegals.

It's a step in the right direction and hopefully taking away the carrot will keep them from making our border a revolving door SINCE WE STILL DON'T HAVE A WALL TO KEEP THEM OUT.