For as long as illegal immigration has been around, the federal government has been the only system that has control over it. Recently, however, many states are getting in on the action. The states are frustrated with deadlocked Congress which can't make a decision on immigration reform, and complain that immigrants are slowly weakening America.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, forty-three states have enacted 182 immigration-related laws in 2007. The laws vary, however many focus on penalizing employers of illegals, restricting public benefits, and making it difficult for immigrants to find housing. "They're trying to scare people and they're saying 'We don't want you here,'" said William Sanchez, lead attorney for the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders.
One of the front runners in this situation is Oklahoma. In March of 2007, Oklahoma passed the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007 , which is considered one of the toughest in the nations. The act makes it a felony to harbor or transport illegals, requires local law enforcement and businesses to enforce federal immigration restrictions, and decreases public benefits for illegal immigrants. Many other states are looking to follow suit. State lawmakers have introduced about two and half times more immigration bills in 2007 than in 2006, and the number that have actually been passed is more than double the 84 bills in 2006.
Opponents of these actions claim that these decisions can only be made by Congress. Proponents of states' control over immigration say something similiar to Ann Morse, a policy analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures, "The federal government has authority over who comes in this country . . . but the people who are responsible for helping them integrate and acclimate are state and local governments".
Until next time...
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