States taking immigration into own hands

PHOENIX, June 15 (UPI) -- The legislatures of the 50 United States have introduced a record number of immigration-related bills this year out of frustration with federal reform delays.
As of April, the members of state legislatures had introduced 1,169 bills dealing with illegal immigrants, which is more than double the number put forward in 2006, the Christian Science Monitor reported Friday, citing statistics from the National Conference of State Legislatures.

On a local level, Dennis Zine, a board member of the National League of Cities and the chair of its Immigration Task Force, said more than 90 cities and counties have debated laws prohibiting landlords from leasing to illegal immigrants, penalizing businesses that employ undocumented workers, or training local police to enforce federal immigration laws, the Monitor said.

The report came as U.S. Senate leaders announced an agreement to resume debate on federal reform late next week. Measures in the draft bill would create a legal path to citizenship for illegal immigrants willing to register, pay a fine, learn English and pay back taxes.

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