Thread: Yuma state reps oppose immigration bills

Yuma state reps oppose immigration bills

March 13, 2011 3:23 PM
BY CESAR NEYOY - BAJO EL SOL

Yuma's two state representatives, Lynne Pancrazi and Russ Jones, say they will vote against three immigration bills should the measures make it to the House of Representatives.

Pancrazi called the measures unconstitutional, and both she and Jones predicted the legislation would hamper Arizona's economic recovery.

Jones and Pancrazi were referring to Senate Bills 1611, 1308 and 1309, all of which got yes votesfrom Yuma County's other lawmaker, Sen. Don Shooter, when they were approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee in February.

SB 1611 would ban illegal immigrants from attending the state's community colleges and universities, while SB 1308 and 1309 would deny citizenship to children born in this country to parents who are in the country illegally.

SB 1611 also would require schools to report parents who do not furnish a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport or similar documentation for children when they enroll in school, and would require the city to evict public housing tenants who could not prove legal presence in the country. It also would put teeth into a 2007 law allowing judges to suspend or revoke licenses of businesses found guilty of knowingly hiring undocumented workers.

“What the state spends on undocumented immigrants is little, and these bills are going against businesses and put at risk our economic recovery,â€

[quote]“What the state spends on undocumented immigrants is little, and these bills are going against businesses and put at risk our economic recovery,â€

[quote]“What the state spends on undocumented immigrants is little, and these bills are going against businesses and put at risk our economic recovery,â€

The bills are not going to scare any investors away unless they are doing illegal business. ALL businesses and investors want a safe secure environment. Not one where the taxmoney is going to illegals, not where crime is allowed to flourish and not one where their business is dependant on illegal workers. They want security and stability.