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States Crack Down on Illegals

As Congress dithers, a flurry of locals bills targets immigrants

By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 25, 2007 4:40 AM CDT
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(Newser) – States frustrated by Washington's inaction on illegal immigration are taking matters into their own hands with a record number of proposals that prevent immigrants from getting jobs, finding housing and benefiting from social services, the Washington Post reports. At least 1,100 state immigration bills have been proposed, more than double last year's record total.

The actions reflect local politicians' anger at the feds' inability to seal the Mexican border and provisions in the stalled Senate bill that could allow citizenship for up to 12 million illegal immigrants—back on the agenda as early as tomorrow. While the federal government sets policy, it's the states who foot the bill, notes one analyst.

A child looks at a soldier of the 68th Battalion of the Mexican...
A child looks at a soldier of the 68th Battalion of the Mexican...   (Getty Images)
Illegal immigrants use inner-tubes to cross the Rio Grande River at the U.S-Mexico border in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, just across from Laredo, Texas, Saturday, June 2, 2007. Congressional lawmakers are working on an immigration bill that would legalize millions of unlawful immigrants and beef up border security. (AP Photo/LM...
Illegal immigrants use inner-tubes to cross the Rio Grande River at the U.S-Mexico border in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, just across from Laredo, Texas, Saturday, June 2, 2007. Congressional lawmakers are...   (Associated Press)
A man, who called himself an illegal immigrant, is taken away by police during a rally held in support of Hazleton mayor Lou Barletta, in front of City Hall in Hazleton, Pa., Sunday, June 3, 2007. Barletta, a businessman who took office in 2000, proposed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act...
A man, who called himself an illegal immigrant, is taken away by police during a rally held in support of Hazleton mayor Lou Barletta, in front of City Hall in Hazleton, Pa., Sunday, June 3, 2007. Barletta,...   (Associated Press)
Protestors Rally At OK State Capitol Against Mexican Truckers
Protestors Rally At OK State Capitol Against Mexican Truckers   (Getty Images)
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Map of illegal immigrants per state
BusinessWeek

 
Congress • illegal immigrant • law • Mexico • citizenship • reform • immigrant • state governments

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