Which state bills were proposed in the last legislative cycle on immigration?
Here are a few bills that were proposed in the last legislative cycle on immigration, some that include enacted bills.
Here are a few bills that were proposed in the last legislative cycle on immigration, some that include enacted bills.
- Arkansas H 1038
This law allocates $12,000 in funding for the Arkansas Refugee Resettlement Program.
- Idaho S 1367
This law amends existing law relating to public institutions of higher education to provide resident student status for admittance to certain veterans, active duty military, and their dependents. A person who is not a citizen of the United States, who does not have permanent or temporary resident status or does not hold “refugee parolee" or "conditional entrant" status does not qualify for resident student status.
- Utah H 114
This law requires higher education institutions to disclose to the state Board of Regents any gifts of $50,000 or more received from a foreign person.
- Washington H 2913
This law authorizes the creation of inter-district cooperative high school programs designed to provide interdisciplinary curriculum and instruction themes through online, direct classroom instruction at multiple and varying locations, and other mechanisms to maximize access for geographically dispersed students, including migrant students.
- Washington S 6403
This law seeks to improve high school graduation rates through development of a collaborative infrastructure of state and local education agencies that serve vulnerable youth, including recent immigrants, who are at-risk for school failure.
- Utah H 230
This law defines human trafficking for forced sexual exploitation as a second degree felony and human smuggling for profit as a third degree felony in the state of Utah.
- Mississippi H 930
This law defines the requirements for issuing or renewing a noncitizen's driver's license or state identification card.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------How Arizona and Alabama tried regulating immigration- Alabama Immigration Law - HB 56: The Alabama state legislature passed a controversial law requiring public schools to check students' immigration status, criminalizes giving an undocumented immigrant a ride, required employers to use E-Verify to check potential employees' status, and instructs police to check the immigration status of anyone they stop if they suspect the person of being an undocumented immigrant.
- My opinion on Alabama's law is that it takes it to the extreme. I believe that they shouldn't require people to have to have their passports at all times and to have their papers with them. In my opinion, people should only be required to show their papers or passports at necessary events such as flying out of state or to another country. They shouldn't be required to show their status to others without a valid reason. Also, if they keep carrying around their important documents or passports, they may lose it. Losing a passport is very hazardous and dangerous because anyone can take it and steal your identity, and worse of all, it would be really hard to get it back or make a new one.
- Arizona State Immigration Laws - SB 1070: The Arizona state bill makes it illegal for unauthorized immigrants to solicit work in any public space; it also requires state and local law-enforcement officials to inquire about immigration status during and lawful stop, detention, or arrest. The state bill also makes it unlawful for any person to transport, move, conceal, harbor, or shield from detection any unauthorized immigrant if the person knows or recklessly disregards the fact that the immigrant is in the United States illegally.
- My opinion on Arizona's law is that it is pretty fair. It only requires immigrants to present their status during stop, detention, or arrest. Unlike Arizona, Alabama requires it for basically everywhere they go. Arizona's law is more just and realistic.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Result of the Ammendments
The Alabama SB 256 passed by the Senate but has not gotten the House's approval. The Alabama HB 56 was passed by the House but needs the Senate's approval.The Arizona SB 1070 has been passed by House and Senate and into law by Governor Jan brower but some parts of the law have been blocked by the judge.
VOTER SCORE CARD
House of Representatives
YEAS: 85 Armes Fourkiller McNiel Roberts, D. Banz Glenn McPeak Roberts, S. Bennett Grau Moore Rousselot Billy Hall Morgan Blackwell Hardin Mulready Sanders Brumbaugh Hickman Murphey Schwartz Cannaday Holland Nelson Sears Casey Hoskin Newell Shannon Christian Inman Nollan Stiles Cockroft Jackson Ortega Sullivan Condit Jordan Osborn Terrill Coody Joyner Ownbey Thomsen Cooksey Kern Peters Tibbs Cox Key Peterson Trebilcock Dank Kirby Pittman Vaughan Denney Kouplen Proctor Watson Derby Liebmann Pruett Wesselhoft DeWitt Lockhart Quinn Wright Dorman Martin, Sc. Renegar Mr.Speaker Enns Martin, St. Reynolds Farley McCullough Richardson Faught McDaniel, R. Ritze
NAYS: 7
Hamilton Scott Shumate Williams
McDaniel, J. Shelton Virgin EXCUSED: 9 Brown McAffrey Sherrer Hilliard Morrissette Shoemake Johnson Roan Walker
Senate
YEAS: 37 Aldridge Burrage Jolley Shortey Allen Crain Justice Simpson Anderson David Marlatt Sparks Ballenger Ellis Mazzei Stanislawski Barrington Fields Myers Sykes Bingman Ford Newberry Treat Branan Garrison Nichols Wyrick Brecheen Halligan Reynolds Brinkley Holt Russell Brown Johnson, R. Schulz NAYS: 8 Bass Eason Mc Laster Rice Coates Johnson, C. Lerblance Wilson
EXCUSED: 3Adelson Ivester Paddack --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oklahoma's Immigration Bill
To start off here are a few articles regarding Oklahoma's Immigration Bill.
Oklahoma immigration bill won’t be heard this session
Arizona-style immigration bill won__8217__t be heard this session in Oklahoma
Proposed legislation modeled after Arizona’s new immigration law will not be heard this session, legislative leaders said Thursday.MULTIMEDIA
But the architect of Oklahoma’s anti-illegal immigration law said he will continue to press on with at least three measures that would beef up the state’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration."What happens in that building doesn’t happen by the action of one or two people,” said Rep. Randy Terrill. "It is a concerted team effort.”House Speaker Chris Benge said a resolution to a lawsuit filed against the Arizona law likely won’t be resolved before legislators, who have only three weeks remaining in this year’s session, are scheduled to adjourn. Also, some legal challenges remain concerning Oklahoma’s anti-illegal immigration law, he said."The measure we passed a couple years ago is still working through legal challenges, and we need to see how that comes out at the end of the day before we would address any other immigration issue,” said Benge, R-Tulsa.Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee concurred."Arizona’s a border state and it’s more of a heightened issue there,” said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. "We’ve already passed some immigration measures. Doing it in a full session if somebody wants to bring it and go through the committee process makes sense.”The Arizona law makes it a state crime to be in that state illegally and requires law officers to check documents of people they reasonably suspect to be illegal immigrants.A spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry said earlier that the governor sees no need to add to Oklahoma’s existing immigration law. Immigration is primarily a federal issue, the governor has said.Terrill, R-Moore, is among five Republican legislators who are considering filing immigration legislation. Ideas being considered are confiscating vehicles driven by illegal immigrants and making it a felony for an illegal immigrant to possess a firearm. Another proposal is to prosecute under the state’s racketeering laws large-scale immigration violations, such as mass human trafficking or large amounts of illegally earned proceeds being funneled out of the state, he said.A proposal to prevent children from becoming citizens at birth if both their parents are illegal immigrants may be "taking an awfully big bite at the apple, perhaps too big of a bite for us to be able to handle in the short period of time that we have left in session,” Terrill said.Legislators are scheduled to adjourn May 28. The fact that lawmakers still are working on a budget for the upcoming fiscal year shouldn’t prevent other issues from being tackled, Terrill said."Our current budget constraints do not prevent us from considering other very big and important substantive public policy issues, and I would place illegal immigration in that category,” he said.
Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-immigration-bill-wont-be-heard-this-session/article/3459456#ixzz1dbiI44b6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Politics
Oklahoma House Passes Arizona-style Immigration Bill
Published March 12, 2011| Fox News Latino
The Oklahoma House overwhelmingly passed a bill patterned after the controversial Arizona law that allows local law enforcement officers to inquire about people's immigration status adding Oklahoma to the list of state's who have considered or passed Arizona-style illegal immigration laws.The House voted 85-7 for the bill, despite concerns from some members it didn't go far enough to target businesses that hire undocumented immigrants."My goal is for this bill to focus on public safety," said Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee, who co-chairs a joint House and Senate committee charged with developing a comprehensive anti-illegal immigration bill.
The bill stiffens the penalties for human smuggling and allows law enforcement to seize property used to harbor or transport undocumented immigrants. It also allows state and local law enforcement officers to inquire about an individual's immigration status, but only if the officer has completed a federal training program.State Rep. Randy Terrill, a fierce critic of illegal immigration, said he believes the proposal was watered down at the request of business interests and called the bill a "sellout to the State Chamber of Commerce."Fred Morgan, the chamber's president, said his group believes illegal immigration should be addressed at the federal level, but that the organization is not actively supporting or trying to derail any of the immigration bills at the state Capitol."We do want to make sure that any legislation that comes out doesn't impose hardships on legitimate businesses," Morgan said.To that end, lawmakers in Utah passed a bill this week that would allow undocumented immigrants to work and live in the state.An opponent of the Oklahoma bill, state Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, said she fears victims of human smuggling or abuse will be too frightened to report crimes to police for fear of being deported."You are taking an entire segment of the population of this state and putting them outside the protection of the law," said Hamilton, a Democrat who represents a heavily Hispanic district in south Oklahoma City. "You're making it impossible for the victim to go to the police."The bill now heads to the Senate, which is expected to consider a separate sweeping anti-illegal immigration bill next week.Republican House Speaker Kris Steele indicated it's likely both bills will end up being rewritten in a House and Senate conference committee."This is not the final version of what our immigration reform bill ultimately will be," said Steele, R-Shawnee. "It's a work in progress, and there's no secret about that."
Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2011/03/12/oklahoma-house-passes-arizona-style-immigration/#ixzz1dbj8mvPe
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oklahoma's Bill:- Is an Anti-Immigration Bill.
- Authorizes police officers to seize any property, including vehicles and personal property.
- Is similar to Arizona's Immigration Bill
- Makes it a crime for immigrants to be in the workforce unless is registered in the Basic Pilot Program.
- Was passed in both the house and senate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------My opinion after reading about the Immigration debate
After reading about several bills of different states, I believe that it should be fair for immigrants to start their lives in the U.S. I know their are people who say that it is unfair for them to just come to the U.S and be able to take our jobs and start their life here. But here's the question, isn't the United States suppose to have be people "united" and treat all humans equally? Immigrants that come from their countries obviously come here for better lives. Most of the time these illegal immigrants had horrible lives and suffered severely. So why should we not allow them to have their human rights and make something of themselves? And besides, when anybody comes to the U.S, they have to pay their taxes, which means they are giving their part and not just living here for free. For me, being a citizen who is well-off, lives in a wonderful home, goes to school, eats to survive, and is part of this country is something anybody from anywhere around the world would dream of doing. So why not give opportunities to others? Why not let them fix their lives and forget about the bad past they've had? Isn't that what "All men are equal" implies to? I believe this country should give immigrants opportunities to make something of themselves and start their lives again. Besides, they will benefit this country by giving us a hand in work and help make this country be better place.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seven Myths That Cloud Immigration Debate
, Vice President and Director, Governance StudiesUSA Today
- Myth No. 1 — Illegal immigrants don't pay taxes. They actually pay a variety of taxes. Because many undocumented workers hold jobs, a large number pay income, Social Security and Medicare taxes, as well as sales taxes when they purchase items in stores and property taxes when they rent or own homes. One study found that they pay $162 billion annually in federal, state and local taxes. Another project found that the average immigrant paid $1,800 more in taxes than government benefits received.Myth No. 2 — The United States rarely deports illegal immigrants. In fact, the government deports 350,000 people annually. Since 1999, more than 2.2 million people have been deported from the United States, including visitors who overstayed their visas, lied on immigration forms, or committed serious crimes. State and federal officials regularly check the immigrant status of those who are arrested or serving time in prison.Myth No. 3 — Economics and business drive U.S. immigration policy. Two-thirds of the 1 million official visas awarded each year are based on family unification. Conversely, only 15% of visas each year are awarded for employment purposes. Other nations devote a far higher percentage of visas to economic or employment-related reasons. Canada, for example, grants more than half of its visas for employment-related reasons.Myth No. 4 — The United States makes a special effort to attract scientists, engineers and technological experts. Right now, we set aside only 65,000 of America's nearly 1 million visas each year for high-skilled workers. This is well below the 195,000 high-skilled visas that the U.S. allowed from 1999 to 2004. One study found that 25% of all the technology and engineering businesses launched in the USA from 1995 to 2005 had a foreign-born founder. In Silicon Valley, that number was 52.4%.Myth No. 5 — The courts treat immigrants fairly. In immigration court deportation proceedings, those who have a lawyer win their cases 46% of the time, compared with 16% for those without a lawyer. Because these are civil courts, defendants have no Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and no guarantee of legal representation.Myth No. 6— Americans oppose allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the United States and become citizens. Polling data suggest there is public support for a "path to citizenship" for illegal immigrants currently in the country, subject to certain conditions. Results from a Pew Research Center survey show that 63% favor a "path to citizenship" if illegal immigrants pass a background check, pay fines and have a job.Myth No. 7 — News stories about immigration are balanced. Studies of mainstream print and broadcast coverage in recent years have found, for instance, that news outlets are twice as likely to focus on the costs rather than benefits of immigration.Given the importance of immigration to our economic growth, security and national identity, we need a new narrative. We should think about finding the next Albert Einstein, Sergey Brin, or Andrew Grove, future innovators who can start businesses and create high-paying jobs. An immigration policy based on an "Einstein Principle" would increase our odds for economic prosperity and enhance job creation and innovation.My opinion: These are exactly what people who are against immigration should read about. This proves to them that immigrants share their part in this country and do duties they are supposed to be doing. They don't just come here to live life with pleasure. No, they come here knowing that if they want the freedom we have and the pleasures of life we have, they must work up to it.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Debate
SUPPORTERS OPPOSERS
Immigrants often taken the low-paying jobs (like food service & hotel cleaning) that most Americans don't want to do at such low wages. More immigrants means more opportunity for terrorists, drug dealers, and other criminals to enter the country. It improves the overall image of American internationally, as it is seen as an open, welcoming country; and immigrants who return home or maintain contact with family back home have a true image of America, not the one propagandized in much of the international media. The emigration to the United States hurts the home country, as much of the male population, workers, and top intellectuals often leave their country. It gives struggling people all over the world an opportunity for a better life. This country was built on immigrants who sought opportunity, political & religious freedom, etc. The national identity and language is disappearing. The great "melting pot" is being replaced by divisive multiculturism. Adding an additional group of cheap labor adds to the flexibility of business, leading to cheaper prices, better quality products, and higher profits. Less-skilled American citizens earn less money and have fewer job opportunities because they must compete with immigrants in the job market. It increases the diversity and expands the culture of the country.
This law allocates $12,000 in funding for the Arkansas Refugee Resettlement Program.
This law amends existing law relating to public institutions of higher education to provide resident student status for admittance to certain veterans, active duty military, and their dependents. A person who is not a citizen of the United States, who does not have permanent or temporary resident status or does not hold “refugee parolee" or "conditional entrant" status does not qualify for resident student status.
This law requires higher education institutions to disclose to the state Board of Regents any gifts of $50,000 or more received from a foreign person.
This law authorizes the creation of inter-district cooperative high school programs designed to provide interdisciplinary curriculum and instruction themes through online, direct classroom instruction at multiple and varying locations, and other mechanisms to maximize access for geographically dispersed students, including migrant students.
This law seeks to improve high school graduation rates through development of a collaborative infrastructure of state and local education agencies that serve vulnerable youth, including recent immigrants, who are at-risk for school failure.
This law defines human trafficking for forced sexual exploitation as a second degree felony and human smuggling for profit as a third degree felony in the state of Utah.
This law defines the requirements for issuing or renewing a noncitizen's driver's license or state identification card.
How Arizona and Alabama tried regulating immigration
- Alabama Immigration Law - HB 56: The Alabama state legislature passed a controversial law requiring public schools to check students' immigration status, criminalizes giving an undocumented immigrant a ride, required employers to use E-Verify to check potential employees' status, and instructs police to check the immigration status of anyone they stop if they suspect the person of being an undocumented immigrant.
- My opinion on Alabama's law is that it takes it to the extreme. I believe that they shouldn't require people to have to have their passports at all times and to have their papers with them. In my opinion, people should only be required to show their papers or passports at necessary events such as flying out of state or to another country. They shouldn't be required to show their status to others without a valid reason. Also, if they keep carrying around their important documents or passports, they may lose it. Losing a passport is very hazardous and dangerous because anyone can take it and steal your identity, and worse of all, it would be really hard to get it back or make a new one.
- Arizona State Immigration Laws - SB 1070: The Arizona state bill makes it illegal for unauthorized immigrants to solicit work in any public space; it also requires state and local law-enforcement officials to inquire about immigration status during and lawful stop, detention, or arrest. The state bill also makes it unlawful for any person to transport, move, conceal, harbor, or shield from detection any unauthorized immigrant if the person knows or recklessly disregards the fact that the immigrant is in the United States illegally.
- My opinion on Arizona's law is that it is pretty fair. It only requires immigrants to present their status during stop, detention, or arrest. Unlike Arizona, Alabama requires it for basically everywhere they go. Arizona's law is more just and realistic.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result of the Ammendments
The Alabama SB 256 passed by the Senate but has not gotten the House's approval. The Alabama HB 56 was passed by the House but needs the Senate's approval.
The Arizona SB 1070 has been passed by House and Senate and into law by Governor Jan brower but some parts of the law have been blocked by the judge.
House of Representatives
YEAS: 85
Armes Fourkiller McNiel Roberts, D.
Banz Glenn McPeak Roberts, S.
Bennett Grau Moore Rousselot
Billy Hall Morgan
Blackwell Hardin Mulready Sanders
Brumbaugh Hickman Murphey Schwartz
Cannaday Holland Nelson Sears
Casey Hoskin Newell Shannon
Christian Inman Nollan Stiles
Cockroft Jackson Ortega Sullivan
Condit Jordan Osborn Terrill
Coody Joyner Ownbey Thomsen
Cooksey Kern Peters Tibbs
Cox Key Peterson Trebilcock
Dank Kirby Pittman Vaughan
Denney Kouplen Proctor Watson
Derby Liebmann Pruett Wesselhoft
DeWitt Lockhart Quinn Wright
Dorman Martin, Sc. Renegar Mr.Speaker
Enns Martin, St. Reynolds
Farley McCullough Richardson
Faught McDaniel, R. Ritze
Hamilton Scott Shumate Williams
McDaniel, J. Shelton Virgin
EXCUSED: 9
Brown McAffrey Sherrer
Hilliard Morrissette Shoemake
Johnson Roan Walker
Senate
YEAS: 37
Aldridge Burrage Jolley Shortey
Allen Crain Justice Simpson
Anderson David Marlatt Sparks
Ballenger Ellis Mazzei Stanislawski
Barrington Fields Myers Sykes
Bingman Ford Newberry Treat
Branan Garrison Nichols Wyrick
Brecheen Halligan Reynolds
Brinkley Holt Russell
Brown Johnson, R. Schulz
NAYS: 8
Bass Eason Mc Laster Rice
Coates Johnson, C. Lerblance Wilson
EXCUSED: 3
Adelson Ivester Paddack
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-immigration-bill-wont-be-heard-this-session/article/3459456#ixzz1dbiI44b6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2011/03/12/oklahoma-house-passes-arizona-style-immigration/#ixzz1dbj8mvPe
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oklahoma's Immigration Bill
To start off here are a few articles regarding Oklahoma's Immigration Bill.
Oklahoma immigration bill won’t be heard this session
Arizona-style immigration bill won__8217__t be heard this session in Oklahoma
Proposed legislation modeled after Arizona’s new immigration law will not be heard this session, legislative leaders said Thursday.
MULTIMEDIA
But the architect of Oklahoma’s anti-illegal immigration law said he will continue to press on with at least three measures that would beef up the state’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.
"What happens in that building doesn’t happen by the action of one or two people,” said Rep. Randy Terrill. "It is a concerted team effort.”
House Speaker Chris Benge said a resolution to a lawsuit filed against the Arizona law likely won’t be resolved before legislators, who have only three weeks remaining in this year’s session, are scheduled to adjourn. Also, some legal challenges remain concerning Oklahoma’s anti-illegal immigration law, he said.
"The measure we passed a couple years ago is still working through legal challenges, and we need to see how that comes out at the end of the day before we would address any other immigration issue,” said Benge, R-Tulsa.
Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee concurred.
"Arizona’s a border state and it’s more of a heightened issue there,” said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. "We’ve already passed some immigration measures. Doing it in a full session if somebody wants to bring it and go through the committee process makes sense.”
The Arizona law makes it a state crime to be in that state illegally and requires law officers to check documents of people they reasonably suspect to be illegal immigrants.
A spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry said earlier that the governor sees no need to add to Oklahoma’s existing immigration law. Immigration is primarily a federal issue, the governor has said.
Terrill, R-Moore, is among five Republican legislators who are considering filing immigration legislation. Ideas being considered are confiscating vehicles driven by illegal immigrants and making it a felony for an illegal immigrant to possess a firearm. Another proposal is to prosecute under the state’s racketeering laws large-scale immigration violations, such as mass human trafficking or large amounts of illegally earned proceeds being funneled out of the state, he said.
A proposal to prevent children from becoming citizens at birth if both their parents are illegal immigrants may be "taking an awfully big bite at the apple, perhaps too big of a bite for us to be able to handle in the short period of time that we have left in session,” Terrill said.
Legislators are scheduled to adjourn May 28. The fact that lawmakers still are working on a budget for the upcoming fiscal year shouldn’t prevent other issues from being tackled, Terrill said.
"Our current budget constraints do not prevent us from considering other very big and important substantive public policy issues, and I would place illegal immigration in that category,” he said.
Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-immigration-bill-wont-be-heard-this-session/article/3459456#ixzz1dbiI44b6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Politics
Oklahoma House Passes Arizona-style Immigration Bill
Published March 12, 2011
| Fox News Latino
The Oklahoma House overwhelmingly passed a bill patterned after the controversial Arizona law that allows local law enforcement officers to inquire about people's immigration status adding Oklahoma to the list of state's who have considered or passed Arizona-style illegal immigration laws.
The House voted 85-7 for the bill, despite concerns from some members it didn't go far enough to target businesses that hire undocumented immigrants.
"My goal is for this bill to focus on public safety," said Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee, who co-chairs a joint House and Senate committee charged with developing a comprehensive anti-illegal immigration bill.
The bill stiffens the penalties for human smuggling and allows law enforcement to seize property used to harbor or transport undocumented immigrants. It also allows state and local law enforcement officers to inquire about an individual's immigration status, but only if the officer has completed a federal training program.
State Rep. Randy Terrill, a fierce critic of illegal immigration, said he believes the proposal was watered down at the request of business interests and called the bill a "sellout to the State Chamber of Commerce."
Fred Morgan, the chamber's president, said his group believes illegal immigration should be addressed at the federal level, but that the organization is not actively supporting or trying to derail any of the immigration bills at the state Capitol.
"We do want to make sure that any legislation that comes out doesn't impose hardships on legitimate businesses," Morgan said.
To that end, lawmakers in Utah passed a bill this week that would allow undocumented immigrants to work and live in the state.
An opponent of the Oklahoma bill, state Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, said she fears victims of human smuggling or abuse will be too frightened to report crimes to police for fear of being deported.
"You are taking an entire segment of the population of this state and putting them outside the protection of the law," said Hamilton, a Democrat who represents a heavily Hispanic district in south Oklahoma City. "You're making it impossible for the victim to go to the police."
The bill now heads to the Senate, which is expected to consider a separate sweeping anti-illegal immigration bill next week.
Republican House Speaker Kris Steele indicated it's likely both bills will end up being rewritten in a House and Senate conference committee.
"This is not the final version of what our immigration reform bill ultimately will be," said Steele, R-Shawnee. "It's a work in progress, and there's no secret about that."
Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2011/03/12/oklahoma-house-passes-arizona-style-immigration/#ixzz1dbj8mvPe
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oklahoma's Bill:
- Is an Anti-Immigration Bill.
- Authorizes police officers to seize any property, including vehicles and personal property.
- Is similar to Arizona's Immigration Bill
- Makes it a crime for immigrants to be in the workforce unless is registered in the Basic Pilot Program.
- Was passed in both the house and senate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My opinion after reading about the Immigration debate
After reading about several bills of different states, I believe that it should be fair for immigrants to start their lives in the U.S. I know their are people who say that it is unfair for them to just come to the U.S and be able to take our jobs and start their life here. But here's the question, isn't the United States suppose to have be people "united" and treat all humans equally? Immigrants that come from their countries obviously come here for better lives. Most of the time these illegal immigrants had horrible lives and suffered severely. So why should we not allow them to have their human rights and make something of themselves? And besides, when anybody comes to the U.S, they have to pay their taxes, which means they are giving their part and not just living here for free. For me, being a citizen who is well-off, lives in a wonderful home, goes to school, eats to survive, and is part of this country is something anybody from anywhere around the world would dream of doing. So why not give opportunities to others? Why not let them fix their lives and forget about the bad past they've had? Isn't that what "All men are equal" implies to? I believe this country should give immigrants opportunities to make something of themselves and start their lives again. Besides, they will benefit this country by giving us a hand in work and help make this country be better place.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seven Myths That Cloud Immigration Debate
, Vice President and Director, Governance Studies
USA Today
- Myth No. 1 — Illegal immigrants don't pay taxes. They actually pay a variety of taxes. Because many undocumented workers hold jobs, a large number pay income, Social Security and Medicare taxes, as well as sales taxes when they purchase items in stores and property taxes when they rent or own homes. One study found that they pay $162 billion annually in federal, state and local taxes. Another project found that the average immigrant paid $1,800 more in taxes than government benefits received.Myth No. 2 — The United States rarely deports illegal immigrants. In fact, the government deports 350,000 people annually. Since 1999, more than 2.2 million people have been deported from the United States, including visitors who overstayed their visas, lied on immigration forms, or committed serious crimes. State and federal officials regularly check the immigrant status of those who are arrested or serving time in prison.Myth No. 3 — Economics and business drive U.S. immigration policy. Two-thirds of the 1 million official visas awarded each year are based on family unification. Conversely, only 15% of visas each year are awarded for employment purposes. Other nations devote a far higher percentage of visas to economic or employment-related reasons. Canada, for example, grants more than half of its visas for employment-related reasons.Myth No. 4 — The United States makes a special effort to attract scientists, engineers and technological experts. Right now, we set aside only 65,000 of America's nearly 1 million visas each year for high-skilled workers. This is well below the 195,000 high-skilled visas that the U.S. allowed from 1999 to 2004. One study found that 25% of all the technology and engineering businesses launched in the USA from 1995 to 2005 had a foreign-born founder. In Silicon Valley, that number was 52.4%.Myth No. 5 — The courts treat immigrants fairly. In immigration court deportation proceedings, those who have a lawyer win their cases 46% of the time, compared with 16% for those without a lawyer. Because these are civil courts, defendants have no Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and no guarantee of legal representation.Myth No. 6— Americans oppose allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the United States and become citizens. Polling data suggest there is public support for a "path to citizenship" for illegal immigrants currently in the country, subject to certain conditions. Results from a Pew Research Center survey show that 63% favor a "path to citizenship" if illegal immigrants pass a background check, pay fines and have a job.Myth No. 7 — News stories about immigration are balanced. Studies of mainstream print and broadcast coverage in recent years have found, for instance, that news outlets are twice as likely to focus on the costs rather than benefits of immigration.Given the importance of immigration to our economic growth, security and national identity, we need a new narrative. We should think about finding the next Albert Einstein, Sergey Brin, or Andrew Grove, future innovators who can start businesses and create high-paying jobs. An immigration policy based on an "Einstein Principle" would increase our odds for economic prosperity and enhance job creation and innovation.My opinion: These are exactly what people who are against immigration should read about. This proves to them that immigrants share their part in this country and do duties they are supposed to be doing. They don't just come here to live life with pleasure. No, they come here knowing that if they want the freedom we have and the pleasures of life we have, they must work up to it.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Debate
- Myth No. 1 — Illegal immigrants don't pay taxes. They actually pay a variety of taxes. Because many undocumented workers hold jobs, a large number pay income, Social Security and Medicare taxes, as well as sales taxes when they purchase items in stores and property taxes when they rent or own homes. One study found that they pay $162 billion annually in federal, state and local taxes. Another project found that the average immigrant paid $1,800 more in taxes than government benefits received.Myth No. 2 — The United States rarely deports illegal immigrants. In fact, the government deports 350,000 people annually. Since 1999, more than 2.2 million people have been deported from the United States, including visitors who overstayed their visas, lied on immigration forms, or committed serious crimes. State and federal officials regularly check the immigrant status of those who are arrested or serving time in prison.Myth No. 3 — Economics and business drive U.S. immigration policy. Two-thirds of the 1 million official visas awarded each year are based on family unification. Conversely, only 15% of visas each year are awarded for employment purposes. Other nations devote a far higher percentage of visas to economic or employment-related reasons. Canada, for example, grants more than half of its visas for employment-related reasons.Myth No. 4 — The United States makes a special effort to attract scientists, engineers and technological experts. Right now, we set aside only 65,000 of America's nearly 1 million visas each year for high-skilled workers. This is well below the 195,000 high-skilled visas that the U.S. allowed from 1999 to 2004. One study found that 25% of all the technology and engineering businesses launched in the USA from 1995 to 2005 had a foreign-born founder. In Silicon Valley, that number was 52.4%.Myth No. 5 — The courts treat immigrants fairly. In immigration court deportation proceedings, those who have a lawyer win their cases 46% of the time, compared with 16% for those without a lawyer. Because these are civil courts, defendants have no Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and no guarantee of legal representation.Myth No. 6— Americans oppose allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the United States and become citizens. Polling data suggest there is public support for a "path to citizenship" for illegal immigrants currently in the country, subject to certain conditions. Results from a Pew Research Center survey show that 63% favor a "path to citizenship" if illegal immigrants pass a background check, pay fines and have a job.Myth No. 7 — News stories about immigration are balanced. Studies of mainstream print and broadcast coverage in recent years have found, for instance, that news outlets are twice as likely to focus on the costs rather than benefits of immigration.Given the importance of immigration to our economic growth, security and national identity, we need a new narrative. We should think about finding the next Albert Einstein, Sergey Brin, or Andrew Grove, future innovators who can start businesses and create high-paying jobs. An immigration policy based on an "Einstein Principle" would increase our odds for economic prosperity and enhance job creation and innovation.My opinion: These are exactly what people who are against immigration should read about. This proves to them that immigrants share their part in this country and do duties they are supposed to be doing. They don't just come here to live life with pleasure. No, they come here knowing that if they want the freedom we have and the pleasures of life we have, they must work up to it.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Debate
SUPPORTERS OPPOSERS
Immigrants often taken the low-paying jobs (like food service & hotel cleaning) that most Americans don't want to do at such low wages. | More immigrants means more opportunity for terrorists, drug dealers, and other criminals to enter the country. |
It improves the overall image of American internationally, as it is seen as an open, welcoming country; and immigrants who return home or maintain contact with family back home have a true image of America, not the one propagandized in much of the international media. | The emigration to the United States hurts the home country, as much of the male population, workers, and top intellectuals often leave their country. |
It gives struggling people all over the world an opportunity for a better life. This country was built on immigrants who sought opportunity, political & religious freedom, etc. | The national identity and language is disappearing. The great "melting pot" is being replaced by divisive multiculturism. |
Adding an additional group of cheap labor adds to the flexibility of business, leading to cheaper prices, better quality products, and higher profits. | Less-skilled American citizens earn less money and have fewer job opportunities because they must compete with immigrants in the job market. |
It increases the diversity and expands the culture of the country. |
