Arizona Senate committee considers 3 immigration bills

[peejay 327]

Arizona Senate committee considers 3 immigration bills

By BOB CHRISTIE

The Associated Press

Feb. 22, 2011, 5:41PM

PHOENIX — A sweeping bill that targets illegal immigrants in public housing, public benefits and the workplace drew vocal opposition Tuesday from Democrats who say its sponsor is plotting his political strategy and not focused on Republicans' stated top priority, the economy.

"We should be thinking about turning around Arizona's economy, not running for higher office," said Sen. Richard Miranda of Tolleson, taking a swipe at what many believe is Republican Senate President Russell Pearce's interest when he leaves the Legislature. "Is this about fighting the drug cartels at the border or is it about blaming a group for all the state's problems?"

The Senate Appropriations Committee was considering the 29-page bill Tuesday, a day after it was introduced by Pearce, who authored last year's controversial SB 1070. That law touched off a nationwide debate on whether states can enforce federal immigration laws.

Democrats don't have the votes to block the measure, but the topic brought out supporters on both sides and security at the Senate was heightened, with about a dozen uniformed police officers deployed in and around the building.

Two other bills set for hearings Tuesday would challenge automatic U.S. citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants and require hospitals to confirm whether nonemergency patients are in the country legally.

Before the Appropriations Committee meeting, some of the officers outside the building stood between small groups of people who exchanged catcalls and jeers.

Police said four people were arrested and cited for disorderly conduct after disrupting a Democratic senator's news conference about her bill stiffening penalties for a human smuggling crime. Inside, officers cleared a packed hallway, directing people to a large room to watch a video feed of the hearing.

Pearce's bill toughens requirements that employers check work eligibility of new hires, allowing for their business licenses to be suspended it they don't use the federal E-Verify system. Workers caught using a false identity to get a job would face mandatory six-month jail sentences.

It also requires schools to collect information on the legal status of students and report them to law enforcement if their parents don't provide the necessary documents or the documents appear false.

The bill also makes it illegal for an illegal immigrant to drive in the state, providing for a 30-day minimum jail sentence and the seizure of their vehicles if they are convicted.

In housing, it requires public agencies to verify the immigration status of renters and to evict everyone living in a unit if one was found to be an illegal immigrant. For health care, the bill changes some of the document requirements for the state's Medicaid program.

The medical industry opposes the hospital bill, arguing that immigrants with contagious diseases such as tuberculosis would avoid going to hospitals or clinic, putting themselves and the public at a grave health risk.

Sponsors of the citizenship bill hope it will prompt a court interpretation on an element of the 14th Amendment which guarantees citizenship to people born in the U.S. who are "subject to the jurisdiction" of this country. Supporters of the bill the amendment doesn't apply to the children of illegal immigrants because such families don't owe sole allegiance to the U.S.

Similar proposals have been introduced by lawmakers in Indiana, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

An accompanying proposal is an interstate compact that defines who is a U.S. citizen and asks states to issue separate birth certificates for those who are U.S. citizens and those who are not. Such a compact would have to be approved by Congress, but they do not require the president's signature.

Another Senate committee failed to advance the measure two weeks ago, and Pearce pulled the bill for a hearing in the Appropriations Committee, where it is more likely to win passage.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/special/immigration/7441223.html

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Sounds pretty good, though the hospitals checking immigration has me worried that lives may be lost over this.

[peejay 327]

Sounds pretty good, though the hospitals checking immigration has me worried that lives may be lost over this.

Lives are already lost when self serving politicians promise repeated amnesties and refuse to enforce immigration and work authorization laws. It encourages illegal aliens to cross the desert and swim rivers...where hundreds have already died and will die in the future. The blood is on their hands for encouraging illegals to come here in the first place.

It is illegal to refuse emergency care to illegal aliens or anyone else for that matter. Hospitals already check for insurance and ID for everyone anyway. If someone would rather die than submit to hospital requirements, then that is their choice. Blaming these laws are shifting the blame away from individuals responsible for their own actions.

I think your concerns are misplaced. People make choices in life and have to deal with the consequences of their own actions. The same applies to illegal aliens.

[sjr09 155]

Sounds pretty good, though the hospitals checking immigration has me worried that lives may be lost over this.

If the incentives are removed i.e. jobs along with the illegal immigrants not much to be worried about.

[Pooky 3,825]

Arizona still leading by example.

With the number of States following Arizona's example, there may soon come a day when Washington finally recognizes that they either need to enforce the Federal legislation that's on the books, or back off and let the States do it.

Because very soon, if the administration treats all the States equally, they're going to be embroiled in so many legal actions to prevent States enacting anti-illegal immigration legislation that the Justice Department will lose count.

That is, of course, if Congress doesn't succeed in de-funding the Justice Dept's legal action.

Edited February 23, 2011 by Pooky

[Zero Sum 305]

Lives are already lost when self serving politicians promise repeated amnesties and refuse to enforce immigration and work authorization laws. It encourages illegal aliens to cross the desert and swim rivers...where hundreds have already died and will die in the future. The blood is on their hands for encouraging illegals to come here in the first place.

It is illegal to refuse emergency care to illegal aliens or anyone else for that matter. Hospitals already check for insurance and ID for everyone anyway. If someone would rather die than submit to hospital requirements, then that is their choice. Blaming these laws are shifting the blame away from individuals responsible for their own actions.

I think your concerns are misplaced. People make choices in life and have to deal with the consequences of their own actions. The same applies to illegal aliens.

Agreed, they aren't supposed to be here. However, they are here already, and if denial of medical service is mandated based on immigration status, then we are no better than the people that benefit from that illegal trade to begin with.

[sjr09 155]

Agreed, they aren't supposed to be here. However, they are here already, and if denial of medical service is mandated based on immigration status, then we are no better than the people that benefit from that illegal trade to begin with.

And what do you propose we do with the ones that keep coming everyday? To say we are no better than the people that benefit from that illegal trade to begin with is rubbish.

Edited February 23, 2011 by sjr09

[Zero Sum 305]

And what do you propose we do with the ones that keep coming everyday? To say we are no better than the people that benefit from that illegal trade to begin with is rubbish.

Why is it rubbish? They are here already, not coming everyday or thinking about it. Learn to read and differentiate written sentences.

The ones that haven't come, can be stopped by efficient border security and promotion of social conditions in the home country that do not stimulate the immigration to begin. I know, some will say its not our job to do this, but the price tag is likely easier on us taxpayers than a border wall that can get porous in more than one location.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

A new sock puppet!!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Why is it rubbish? They are here already, not coming everyday or thinking about it. Learn to read and differentiate written sentences.

The ones that haven't come, can be stopped by efficient border security and promotion of social conditions in the home country that do not stimulate the immigration to begin. I know, some will say its not our job to do this, but the price tag is likely easier on us taxpayers than a border wall that can get porous in more than one location.

Bank robber to police; "Don't shoot, I'm already in the vault".

Giving these ILLEGALS any kind of help in any form only encourages them and other future ILLEGALS.

Edited February 23, 2011 by Why_Me

[Zero Sum 305]

Bank robber to police; "Don't shoot, I'm already in the vault".

Giving these ILLEGALS any kind of help in any form only encourages them and other future ILLEGALS.

A doctor would see a patient that needs medical assistance, not an illegal that will tell other illegals about it. Doctors that have patient selectivity issues based on non-medical factors should not be in the medical field. I'm sure you're probably just trolling for a certain response that you won't get.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

A doctor would see a patient that needs medical assistance, not an illegal that will tell other illegals about it. Doctors that have patient selectivity issues based on non-medical factors should not be in the medical field. I'm sure you're probably just trolling for a certain response that you won't get.

Nope, not trolling at all. In fact if I had my way about it, I would hang them on poles right next to the border to send a clear message to the others. This is a problem on a massive scale and something needs to be done about it, something that works. Berlin type wall w/mine fields, and some dead illegals hanging every few hundred feet on a cactus should do the trick imo.

[Zero Sum 305]

Nope, not trolling at all. In fact if I had my way about it, I would hang them on poles right next to the border to send a clear message to the others. This is a problem on a massive scale and something needs to be done about it, something that works. Berlin type wall w/mine fields, and some dead illegals hanging every few hundred feet on a cactus should do the trick imo.

OK. I can send some info on anger management and/or psych services if you want.

Make sure you include the kids that come across as well.

[sjr09 155]

Why is it rubbish? They are here already, not coming everyday or thinking about it. Learn to read and differentiate written sentences.

The ones that haven't come, can be stopped by efficient border security and promotion of social conditions in the home country that do not stimulate the immigration to begin. I know, some will say its not our job to do this, but the price tag is likely easier on us taxpayers than a border wall that can get porous in more than one location.