Thread: Arizona immigration law widely backed in Texas

Arizona immigration law widely backed in Texas
Posted Saturday, Sep. 25, 2010

By Anna M. Tinsley


Ray White doesn't mind if Texas follows Arizona's lead and puts in place an immigration law that lets police ask people to show papers proving they are in the country legally.

"If I'm pulled over for a traffic violation, I have to show identification to prove who I am," said White, a minister at the Union Baptist Church in Springtown. "If I can't prove that, shouldn't I be suspect as ... being in the country illegally?"

More than half of the Texans polled recently agree with White.

Fifty-three percent of registered voters said they would like such a law in Texas, 38 percent oppose it, 8 percent aren't sure and 1 percent refused to answer, according to a poll conducted for the Star-Telegram and other major newspapers in the state.

Texans aren't as sure about whether the Constitution should be changed to give citizenship to children born in the U.S. only if their parents are legal citizens. But more than three-fourths of Texans say they are ready for voter ID requirements -- they just aren't sure whether it should be photo ID or photo ID with registration allowed at the polls.

Immigration laws

While 53 percent of Texans said they'd favor an Arizona-type immigration law here, there is even more support, 69 percent, from those who live in the Fort Worth area. Statewide, Anglos and Republicans were most likely to support such a law.

"You get here the legal way or you get out," said Angel Morena, a 38-year-old Tomball woman who is not Hispanic but was adopted by a Hispanic couple.

There was a nationwide outcry this year over Arizona's law. Lawsuits were filed to block it, and cities such as Austin, Boston and Los Angeles were among those boycotting the state. Ultimately, a federal judge stopped some pieces of the law -- such as requiring police to determine whether people are legally in this country and to detain them if they aren't -- from taking effect.

State Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, plans to file a similar bill in Texas in the coming legislative session.

Texas' version will have a few changes, primarily requiring law enforcers to ask everyone, rather than just some people, to prove residency status.

"We're making a mockery out of our U.S. citizenships," said Berman, a former Arlington mayor pro tem. "Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Tennessee, Arizona -- they've all passed legislation. Now everyone is coming to Texas because we haven't done anything."

Birthright citizenship

Texans are split on whether the Constitution should be changed to give citizenship only to babies born here whose parents are U.S. citizens -- 45 percent favor it, 43 percent oppose it, 11 percent aren't sure and 2 percent refused to answer. Among Fort Worth residents, 51.4 percent support such a change. Statewide, Anglos and Republicans were most likely to support the move.

Berman plans to file a bill to reduce the number of so-called anchor babies born in Texas. He said his bill would prevent the state from issuing a birth certificate to a child born to people here illegally. Instead, parents would get a "notice of birth" and take that to their consulate or embassy. There, they would be given a birth certificate from the country where they are citizens.

Walter Livingston said he doesn't like it when illegal immigrants exploit birthright citizenship.

"That is totally wrong," said Livingston, 69, a retired government weatherman in Burleson who participated in the poll. "Down the line, as long as they stay in the United States, they wind up getting all kinds of benefits that the taxpayers are paying for."

Voter ID

One of the most contentious legislative issues from 2009 -- voter ID -- will be back next year.

Statewide, 44 percent say they'd support a photo ID requirement; 33 percent would support photo ID and a registration system at the polls; 15 percent wouldn't support photo ID; 8 percent weren't sure; and 1 percent refused to answer.

In the Fort Worth area, 48 percent said they would support photo ID, and 32.3 percent would support both photo ID and registration at the polls.

Latino Texans and independents were the most likely to support photo ID, the poll shows.

Last year, Republicans pushed to require Texans to show photo ID at the polls; Democrats said it would disenfranchise disabled, elderly and poor voters. Democrats killed the bill by slowing down all legislation, ultimately killing other bills too.

"If the conventional wisdom about what will happen in the [November] elections is correct, then a strong voter ID will pass because we will have the votes to do so," said Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless, chairman of the House Elections Committee.

State Rep. Marc Veasey, a Fort Worth Democrat among those fighting the bill last year, said he hopes that doesn't happen.

"We should solve our budget shortfall before we delve into anything controversial, like any type of voter suppression deal," he said, adding that he will fight it.

"My goal is always to prevent any bill from passing if I think it's going to disenfranchise voters in my district."

The telephone poll included interviews with 1,072 registered voters from Sept. 15 to Sept. 22 for the Star-Telegram and a consortium of Texas newspapers by Blum & Weprin Associates. The margin of error is 3 percentage points for the immigration questions.

Staff writers Dave Montgomery and Aman Batheja contributed to this report, which includes material from Hearst Newspapers.

www.star-telegram.com

Good for Texas! Lets go states! Lets take our country back and use our own state and local law enforcement officers, 800,000 trained and sworn police officers nationwide who are more than capable and equipped to enforce US immigration law.

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-5688--0-0.html

Note, in July 2010 70% of Texans favor Arizona immigration law:
http://www.alipac.us/article-5488--0-0.html

Maybe, maybe someday the majority will get what they ask for. Not holding my breath.

Originally Posted by Judy

Good for Texas! Lets go states! Lets take our country back and use our own state and local law enforcement officers, 800,000 trained and sworn police officers nationwide who are more than capable and equipped to enforce US immigration law.

I think all the state are with AZ ,Law that good it should be that way get them the hell out Of our Country

Related:
http://www.alipac.us/ftopic-213568-0.html