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New York Times...
State Legislatures Slow on Immigration Measures
By Julia Preston
March 13, 2011
Under newly fortified Republican control, many state governments
started the year pledging forceful action to crack down on illegal
immigration, saying they would fill a void left by the stalemate in
Washington over the issue.
Now, with some legislatures winding down their sessions, the lack of
consensus that has immobilized Congress has shown up in the
legislatures as well, and has slowed — but not stopped — the advance of
bills to penalize illegal immigrants.
No state has passed a law that replicates the one adopted last April in
Arizona, which greatly expanded the powers of police officers to
question the immigration status of people they stop.
Still, immigrant advocates in many states say the debate has clearly
shifted in favor of tougher enforcement. They say they have had to
fight just to hold the line on immigration issues that they thought
were long settled.
Bills similar to Arizona’s are advancing in Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma
and South Carolina. In Kansas and Oklahoma, even though Republicans
control the legislatures and the executive branch, immigration
proposals have encountered unusually vocal opposition from business.
Arizona-style bills died early in Colorado, and Nebraska decided this
month to end its debate on one. Arizona’s law requires state and local
police officers to inquire about the immigration status of anyone they
stop if they have a “reasonable suspicion” the person is an illegal
immigrant.
States also wrestled with other kinds of immigration initiatives. In
New Mexico and Washington, Democrats backed by immigrant advocates
defeated efforts to repeal laws granting driver’s licenses to illegal
immigrants. Those two states and Utah are the only ones that give
licenses to illegal immigrants.
In New Mexico, the repeal effort was championed by Gov. Susana
Martinez, a Republican and a Hispanic, who had promised such a move in
her campaign last year. A bill she supported was defeated by the
Democratic-controlled State Senate on Wednesday. Instead, it approved a
bill that added requirements, including fingerprinting, for immigrants
without a Social Security number who apply for licenses.
If that bill wins final approval and the governor’s signature, it will
create a two-tiered system in which licenses issued to people without
proof of legal residence will be distinctively marked. According to
license authorities, about 83,000 illegal immigrants are driving in New
Mexico.
Ms. Martinez vowed to continue to fight for the repeal, although this
is the final week of the legislative session. She called the current
law “dangerous” and accused Democrats of “partisan political
gamesmanship” for blocking its repeal.
Marcela Díaz, executive director of Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a group that
led the license fight, said, “It’s a good sign that we will be able to
maintain licenses for folks who are living, working and paying taxes in
our state, regardless of their immigration status.”
But, she said, “We don’t take anything for granted.”
Read the rest of the story at the New York Times
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