both TonyRo76 and LasVegasDave.
Posted on 04/27/2010 4:59:32 PM PDT by mdittmar
HAMILTON — A local lawmaker and Butler County’s sheriff are urging the state to move ahead with immigration reforms that “mirror” a controversial new law in Arizona that critics say creates a “police state.”
In a letter sent Tuesday, April 27, state Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, and Sheriff Richard K. Jones urged the governor and leaders of the General Assembly to move ahead with stalled state immigration legislation.
Bills pending in Ohio include one, sponsored by Combs, which requires employers to check a prospective hire’s legal status or risk noncompliance with tax law. Others would allow local law enforcement more ability to assist federal immigration officials.
“We have illegals who are taking jobs away from Americans in this bad economy; they are scamming the welfare system and bringing drugs and the violence that goes with it into this country,” Jones said. “We have to be able to stop it.”
All of the proposals in Columbus fall short of a controversial Arizona bill signed into law Friday, which makes it a crime under state law to be in the U.S. illegally.
The measure — set to take effect in late July or early August — directs state and local police to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal.
Combs said the Arizona law works for Arizona. But before Ohio follows suit — which some lawmakers are considering — it should work on measures already in the making.
“We don’t need an Arizona bill, that’s not what we’re after,” Combs said. “We do need some checks and balances in Ohio. Lets get those done and then we’ll have some success.”
Others worry, though, about the role of racism and racial profiling in immigration measures that allow cops to stop people in the street and demand they show proof of citizenship.
“There’s no logical way, no lawful way, to determine reasonable suspicion of immigration law violation,” said Cleveland attorney David Leopold, president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
“It opens the door effectively to a mandate to racially profile,” said . “What Arizona has essentially done is tantamount to a police state creation.”
The Associate Press contributed to this report.
B U M P
Had to read through to see we are talking about Ohio. I just hope more states follow up with legislation of their own.
Hey everybody should do what Arizona did, reference federal law and enforce it.
The federal immigration law has no provisions to prevent states from enforcing it. In fact many states were doing exactly that until somehow Obama stopped them.
The flood gates are starting to open.
LOL this could be fun.
The law passed in Arizona is an enforcement law not an immigration law. See section 8 USC 1324.
I hope Ohio and other states enact an enforcement law as well.
the far left knows this will be a knock on effect as thousands of illegals will leave AZ but then it will piss off the locals in CO,NM, etc so then the locals will ask for their reps to get immigration bills which we know the rats will not do so this means the rats will lose more states for the election
Go Ohio & Sheriff Jones!
This is the solution all those doofus’ said couldn’t be done.
The states will have to enforce the law.
OBEY OUR LAWS! LEARN ENGLISH! WIN RESPECT! WELCOME!
Except for you drug cartels, coyotes etc.
PLEASE do a similar bill in Michigan!!!!
Well, good on you Ohio, lets see what PA does and how long it takes.
/thought I was done with illegals when I left southern cali in 93.
The flood gates are starting to close,Hopefully.
That makes Utah, Minnesota, and now Ohio
Yes do it! They have already made it so they can’t register their cars without proof of citizenship which is tied up in court right now but might as well let them know they are not welcome here!
FL has a similar law.
If you are in FL you have to show proof of legal status and your DL is only good for the duration of your I-94 or Greencard (depending)
yes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.