2011 Bills filed targeting illegal immigrants

Abilene Reporter-News (Texas)
June 5, 2011
By Chris Tomlinson, Legislature
AUSTIN, TX

State representatives from Houston have filed three pieces of legislation that would criminalize illegal immigrants and those who employ them, but the legislation won't get a hearing unless Gov. Rick Perry adds the topic to his agenda for the current special legislative session.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who presides over the Senate, has called on Perry to allow lawmakers to take up illegal immigration issues and said the governor was definitely considering it.

Rep. Debbie Riddle's first bill, filed late Friday, will make being in the United States illegally an offense under the state.

Legislature

2011

Criminal Trespass Statute. A police officer will be allowed to arrest a suspect for being in the country illegally if the person also was suspected of committing another crime that merited arrest.

Riddle's second measure will make it a felony to intentionally or knowingly hire a worker who does not have permission to work in the United States.

But it allows employers to escape charges if they can absolutely verify a worker's citizenship status, but the check turns out to be wrong.

The last measure will require state agencies to report to the Legislature how much state money is spent on illegal immigrants, including money spent by local governments.

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