From The Associated Press:
By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ , 05.23.11, 11:16 AM EDT
MIAMI — Nearly every state in the union tried to tackle immigration on its own this year in the absence of any federal movement on the matter, and more than half considered Arizona-style enforcement measures, up from just six in 2010.
But an Associated Press review found that in legislature after legislature, nearly all the most punitive measures failed.
What had passed as of Monday mostly reinforced current federal law, though a small number of states actually passed legislation that was helpful to illegal immigrants.
Many measures were set aside so lawmakers could focus on pressing budget crises, but immigrants have also developed more sophisticated lobbying efforts, and business owners came out strongly against tougher sanctions. Some worried about losing sources of labor and gaining extra paperwork. Others feared tourism boycotts like the one organized against Arizona. (more…)
Filed under: Arizona-copycat laws | Tagged: ACLU, Alabama, Arizona, Center for Immigration Studies, Democracia USA, Eli Lilly, Georgia, Immigration Works, Mark Krikorian, MItch Daniels, Nathan Deal, South Carolina, Tamar Jacoby, Utah, Virgil Peck | Leave a Comment »
