Several conservative states, including Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, and Oklahoma, are addressing border security concerns by proposing or passing legislation to combat illegal immigration.
HB 4156 states: “A person commits an impermissible occupation if the person is an alien and willfully and without permission enters and remains in the State of Oklahoma without having first obtained legal authorization to enter the United States.”
The bill, which received strong support in the state House and Senate, is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican.
The legislature deemed the issue a crisis and highlighted concerns about organized crime, including drug cartels, fentanyl distribution, sex trafficking, and labor trafficking.
Under the new law, violations related to “impermissible occupation” would be considered misdemeanors or felonies with corresponding penalties.
Illegal immigrants who have been barred from the country or issued removal orders and enter Oklahoma could face felony charges.
Additionally, those found guilty must leave Oklahoma within 72 hours of conviction or release from custody.
A prison cell block at the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Okla., on July 16, 2015. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
The law mandates the collection of fingerprints, photographs, and biometric data by police for cross-checking with state databases.
Bill sponsor Rep. Charles McCall stated, “The failure of the federal government to address this issue has turned every state into a border state. Those willing to come legally are welcome, but illegal immigration will not be rewarded in Oklahoma.”
Many of these individuals have been released into the United States under the catch-and-release policy.
Other states like Texas have also enacted laws to address illegal immigration, with some facing legal challenges.
New Laws in Iowa, Tennessee, and Georgia
Tennessee and Georgia have also implemented laws requiring cooperation with federal immigration authorities to address illegal immigration.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott holds a press conference at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Feb. 4, 2024. (Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images)
Chris Todd mentioned on the House floor that in Georgia, lawmakers passed House Bill 1105, which mandates jailers to verify the immigration status of inmates. The bill was a response to the murder of nursing student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, Jose Antonio Ibarra. Immigration officials confirmed that Ibarra crossed into the U.S. illegally in 2022. The bill awaits the signature of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
Louisiana is considering SB 388, a bill allowing state police to arrest suspected illegal immigrants, while Arizona passed a similar law that was later vetoed by the state’s Democratic Governor. New Hampshire also passed SB 504 to bring criminal trespass charges against those suspected of entering the U.S. illegally from Canada.
Cities and counties across red and blue states are implementing measures to prevent illegal immigrants from entering their jurisdictions. In New York City, a lawsuit was filed against local governments for prohibiting housing for illegal immigrants. Zoning laws were used in cities like Taunton, Massachusetts, to prevent illegal immigrants from living in hotels.
In Mesa County, Colorado, commissioners declared the county a “non-sanctuary county” and denied shelter and services to illegal aliens. Similarly, Florida has been aggressive in passing laws to deter illegal immigration, such as beefing up law enforcement to assist the U.S. Coast Guard and sending the National Guard to Texas. Ron DeSantis has signed laws aimed at deterring illegal immigrants from residing in Florida, earning criticism from the left for being one of the most anti-illegal immigrant legislations in the country. The law requires private businesses with 25 or more employees to use E-verify, penalizes employers for hiring illegal immigrants, and increases penalties for human smuggling. It also prohibits issuing driver’s licenses to those unable to prove lawful presence in the United States and invalidates ID cards given to illegal aliens from other states.
Furthermore, the law prohibits local governments from issuing IDs to illegal immigrants and mandates hospitals to collect and submit data on the costs of providing healthcare to illegal aliens. Leftwing organizations have quickly filed lawsuits to block certain parts of the law.
This year, Florida has reinforced its stance with additional legislation. HB 1451 prohibits counties from funding groups that issue IDs to illegal immigrants or accepting IDs from those known to be unlawfully in the country. SB 1036 enhances penalties for deported illegal immigrants who return to commit crimes in Florida, while HB 1589 increases penalties for driving without a valid license.
Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay, covering the Florida Keys, supports Florida and Texas’ efforts to combat the influx of foreigners, emphasizing the effectiveness of deterrence. He highlights the strain that illegal immigrants put on local resources, necessitating law enforcement to handle situations typically addressed by Border Patrol agents.
Sheriff Ramsay’s experience underscores the importance of messaging, as illegal immigrants share information about states’ friendliness, benefits, sanctuary cities, and enforcement actions. Florida’s tough stance has led to a decrease in migrant arrivals compared to other states.
In contrast, the city of Hialeah in southern Florida criticized the Biden administration’s open border policy due to resource drain caused by illegal immigrants. Hialeah passed an ordinance limiting RV rentals believed to be used as housing by illegal immigrants from Cuba and Haiti.
The Biden administration’s parole policy, allowing mass entry under humanitarian reasons, has faced criticism for its unprecedented use. Florida Governor DeSantis has labeled the program as illegal and pledged to challenge it.
On the Texas border with Mexico, the epicenter of America’s border crisis, efforts are ongoing to address the influx of illegal immigrants. Texas Governor Abbott said. “I would say the combination of that, plus the border wall that Texas has been building, plus the increased presence of the Texas National Guard, plus the increased presence of the Texas Department of Public Safety, plus the increased presence of local law enforcement—it’s really a combination of all those things that have led to the decrease in illegal immigration in Texas.”
While the battle over illegal immigration continues to rage on, it is clear that Governor Abbott and the state of Texas are taking bold and decisive actions to protect their borders and uphold the rule of law. The ongoing showdown with the Biden administration has put Texas at the forefront of the national debate on immigration, as other red-state governors rally behind Abbott’s efforts to secure the border and keep their communities safe. Coe mentioned that his county has prosecuted the highest number of illegal immigrants for trespass and related misdemeanors under Operation Lone Star. In 2019 and 2020, Kinney County handled 254 and 132 misdemeanor cases, mostly involving U.S. citizens. However, due to illegal immigration, the total number of misdemeanor cases increased to 6,799 in 2022 and 5,826 in 2023. Governor Abbott attributes Texas’ tough stance on illegal immigration to the decrease in border crossings but does not address the issue of businesses hiring undocumented individuals. Other states require employers to use E-verify for employment eligibility, unlike Texas. The Biden administration has revoked previous policies aimed at curbing illegal immigration, resulting in a surge in border crossings. Conservatives believe that this influx of illegal immigrants is a form of “weaponized migration” to weaken America and secure future Democratic votes. On the other hand, liberal states like California offer benefits to illegal immigrants, viewing migration as a global human right. A study by the Federation for American Immigration Reform found that Biden’s policies have encouraged Venezuelan migration to the U.S. through lenient measures. The report highlighted instances where illegal immigration fluctuated based on enforcement policies. Please rephrase this sentence. Please rewrite this sentence. Please rewrite this sentence. Please rephrase this sentence.
Source link
