Immigration: Arizona's Law Similar to That of Flyover Country

So much attention is focused on Arizona's controversial immigration law to take effect the end of this month.  Is anyone checking into their own state's laws?  I challenge you to do so, because I imagine you'll find your state either already has similar laws on its books or it considering adopting similar legislation.

Here's a recent report about one "renegade, racist state" from Arizona's East Valley Tribune (emphasis added):

The first measure from the State Legislature came in 2007, when a constitutional amendment was proposed to make English the official language of the state. It was passed by voters by an overwhelming margin.

A year later, the General Assembly passed a law that required law enforcement officials to verify the immigration status of any person arrested, and inform federal authorities if the person is found to be there illegally. Further, it stipulated that any city or town acting as a sanctuary city to illegal immigrants would be ineligible for grant money coming from the state. And it required the commercial driver’s license written test to be given only in English.

In the words of one state legislator: “With the passage of this legislation (we) sent a clear message that illegal immigrants are not welcome in our state, and that they are certainly not welcome to receive public benefits at the cost of (our) taxpayers.”

In 2009, those state regulations went even further. A new law ensured that public institutions of higher learning would not award financial aid to individuals who are there illegally.

Said the legislator: “The bill represents another common sense approach to the issue as it ensures taxpayer dollars are not used to subsidize the education of someone who is in our country illegally.”

The legislator is not Russell Pearce.

And the state is not Arizona.

The state in question is Missouri.  Missouri's new immigration law went into effect in January of 2009.  It parallels much of Arizona's presently under fire from the Obama administration and pro-illegal alien lobbies.  And no one seems to be raising a stink about it.  (The text of the legislation can be found here.)

According to Will Kraus of the Lee's Summit Journal, opponents of the Missouri law have questioned its legality, but none of the legislation has been successfully challenged in court nor overturned due to lack of constitutionality.  He summarizes what HB 1549 entails:

- prohibits the establishment of sanctuary cities

- forbids the issuance of driver's licenses to illegals or to persons who cannot prove lawful residence (the State also refuses to recognize such illegal licenses issued in other states)

- the State law does not make illegal immigration a state crime; however, full cooperation with federal agencies with regards to apprehension and detention of illegals is encouraged

- public benefits are not extended to those who cannot prove legal residency, including receiving state financial aid for college

- to curb the main source of illegal immigration, employers are prohibited from knowingly hiring or continuing to employ illegal aliens; such employers may lose licenses, permits, and exemptions.

I found an informative resource on the Internet: the law firm Williams & Campo, P.C.'s  PowerPoint presentation posted on GoogleDocs titled "Missouri Immigration Laws: What Cities Need to Know."

With regards to removing the "jobs magnet", several states have passed E-Verify Laws: Missouri, Arizona, Oklahoma, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Utah, Oregon, Florida, Virginia, Nebraska ... (sources here and here).

Presently, a Missouri Representative, Mark Parkinson, is pushing to adopt stricter enforcement of the state's immigration laws, mirroring those of Arizona's.  The proposed House Bill HB 2449 would create various crimes for trafficking, concealing, harboring, sheltering, or transporting illegal aliens.  Harboring an illegal alien would be a class B felony (source).

We'll see how much fire that draws from the press and such leftwing, progressive groups as One Million Strong, La Raza, the ACLU, the NAACP, the Department of Justice, and the Media.

Then, again, Missouri sits some 800 miles from the Mexican border, and it doesn't have a half million illegal immigrants.

The Dallas Morning News reports that several states are considering following Arizona's lead:

Utah, Oklahoma, South Carolina may follow Arizona's lead with tougher illegal immigration laws

Michael W. Savage, The Washington Post
Which state is the next Arizona?

Attention is focused on the federal government's decision to challenge Arizona's strict anti-immigration law, but three other states could pass similar legislation next year. Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah have each taken steps against illegal immigration, and politicians in those states are advocating further measures when their legislatures reconvene early next year.
...
Lawmakers in at least 17 states drew up bills this year similar to Arizona's law, which allows officers to question anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally. But most of those measures are not considered likely to be adopted by state legislatures or signed by governors.

In Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah, however, political factors improve the chances that state legislatures could follow Arizona's lead when they convene in 2011. Those states had enacted the most anti-immigrant laws before Arizona's action, according to Vivek Malhotra, advocacy and policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union.

In 2007, Oklahoma adopted legislation that was the toughest ever against illegal immigrants. The measure made it a felony to knowingly provide transport or shelter to an illegal immigrant, and blocked illegal immigrants from obtaining driver's licenses and tuition.
...
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, a Republican, touted a comprehensive set of new measures against illegal immigration as the strictest yet when he signed it into law in 2008. The measure forced businesses to check the immigration status of their workers. Harboring and transporting illegal immigrants also became a state crime. State lawmakers were quick this year to draw up an Arizona-style bill, introducing it less than a week after the Arizona measure had been signed, but too late for legislative action. Legislators expect it to be introduced again in January.

In Utah, several lawmakers are advocating a crackdown. A group visited Arizona last week on a fact-finding expedition. Utah's Republican governor, Gary Herbert, has said he does expect to sign some form of immigration legislation next year.

[Note: the author of the above article, Michael W. Savage, is not to be confused with radio personality Michael Savage.]

It's seems the anti-illegal wave is every bit as bit as the pro-illegal wave ... maybe more so.