Wyoming lawmakers push to tighten immigration law




Associated Press - January 29, 2008 7:55 PM ET

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming might become the latest state to try to enact strict immigration control laws in the absence of federal action on the issue.

Some Wyoming lawmakers are pushing an immigration bill that would make it a felony to harbor or transport an illegal immigrant.

Sponsors of the Wyoming legislation say they want to protect legal workers in the state from being undercut by illegal competition.

It would take a two-thirds vote for the bill to get a hearing in the legislative budget session that begins February 11th.

Representative Dan Zwonitzer is 1 of the bill's co-sponsors. He says it's modeled on a state law that went into effect in Oklahoma last year.

Zwonitzer says he views the bill as pre-emptive for Wyoming. He says illegal immigration is becoming a more serious problem in states closer to the southern border and says it's only a matter of time before it becomes are larger issue in Wyoming.

Critics of the Oklahoma law say it has terrorized Hispanics there and driven thousands of people, including both documented and undocumented workers, from the state.

http://www.kswo.com/global/story.asp?s=7793267