COLUMBUS — The Ohio Senate has approved two immigration proposals sponsored by state Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester Twp.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 16 and Senate Bill 260 seek to reduce the strain illegal immigration has placed on local, state and federal resources, while establishing the opportunity for a key partnership between the federal government and local law enforcement to detain those who have violated immigration laws, according to Cates' office.


SB 260 would grant local law enforcement additional tools to help federal officials enforce the law and deal with the challenges that illegal immigration poses for local governments. Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones and Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper testified for the bill in January.

SB 260 would authorize a county sheriff, upon the request of federal immigration officials, to also assist in the investigation and apprehension of illegal aliens who violate civil provisions of the law.

SCR 16 urges the president and Congress "to secure our nation's borders and to aggressively enforce all existing federal immigration laws." SCR 16 will now move to the Ohio House.

http://www.middletownjournal.com/hp/con ... rbill.html