Border bills
Last Modified: Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 7:28 a.m.
THE ISSUE
Alabama House and Senate committees have passed bills that advocates say would crack down on illegal immigrants holding jobs, but there is some doubt about the constitutionality of some of the measures. This is a matter best left to Congress.
A raft of bills that would make life in Alabama tough on illegal immigrants has passed through committees in the Legislature. Whether they can win passage in either house is not clear, and some elements of the bills would almost certainly face legal challenges.
The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday passed eight of the 10 bills approved earlier in a Senate committee that, among other things, would punish employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. The House committee delayed action on two Senate bills — one that would require all workers to carry state identification cards and another that would require forfeiture of property owned by anyone in the state illegaly.
The Alabama Department of Public Safety expressed concern about issuing ID cards based on cost alone. Officials estimated it would cost $1.7 million to issue the cards. If approved by the Legislature, the new restrictions and requirements would mean stepped-up law enforcement efforts across the board, but there is no provision — other than the forfeitures — to pay for the enforcement.
The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability Committee passed bills earlier this week that would prohibit state incentives being offered to companies that employ illegal immigrants, require the state Revenue Department to withold business licenses to those companies, make it a crime to transport illegal immigrants into the state, prohibit cities from adopting policies that protect illegal immigrants, require jails to deny bail to those in the country illegally, call for the forfeiture of property acquired while the owner was an illegal immigrant, allow law enforcement to impound vehicles of motorists driving without a license, insurance or proof of legal entry into the U.S., require proof of legal entry before receiving public benefits from the state, and allow law enforcement to detain those accused of driving without a license for up to 48 hours without bail.
It seems lawmakers in Alabama are joining the bandwagon of states trying to come to grips with the growing population of undocumented workers crossing the southern border. It’s a political hot-button issue, and one that raises genuine concerns about the cost to the social infrastructure of the country. It’s also popular with voters when state and local lawmakers appear to be doing something to get control of illegal immigration.
But it’s an issue state and local governments are ill equipped to handle.
Congress, unfortunately, has dithered on immigration reform for more than two years, and it’s not likely any significant work will resume until after the next administration takes office in January 2009. Still, immigration is a matter best left to Congress. After all, border control is a federal issue.
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Comments
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March 31, 2008 5:45:43 pm
RE: http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20...214051/1015/OPINIONS
If it is illegal, how can it be right? Sure, there are some bad laws that need changing or clarification, many in the outmoded Alabama Constitution, for one. And then there are federal laws, too, needing adjustments.
Such is not the case with illegal aliens. Present federal laws are quite clear; additional legislation on top of unenforced laws seems assinine.
Last year, two attempts effectively to grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens in America were thoroughly defeated over the objections of the Bush Administration and Sens. McCain and Kennedy.
For once, politicians paid attention and both attempts were defeated. State legislators, keenly aware of how citizens felt about the immigration issue, followed suit in many states.
The immigration bills under consideration in the Alabama legislature are a reflection of it. A change in strategy of a presidential candidate is a reflection of it.
No, I do not think it is a "bandwagon" effect that more and more states are adopting stiff laws dealing with illegal immigrants. The noise does not come from the band, it comes from the people who vote long after the parade has passed.
So some of the Alabama measures are questionable constitutionally? And that they would be "...best left to Congress"? No one believes the Congress anymore and that tactic would just make matters worse.
The state of Oklahoma passed strict immigration laws and it was reported that in one case 25,000 people decided to move to another more favorable location. Movements likewise of illegal aliens from Arizona facing bleak prospects there after strong anti-illegal legislation was passed now head for Texas, home of the president who is pushing amnesty for them.
And puleezee! Don't call them "undocumented workers" anymore as if there was some measure of them being here legally. Illegal aliens are sucking the lifeblood from our society and at the same time displacing thousands of American workers.
What is the second largest source of income to Mexico next to the tourist industry? It is the transfer of billions of U.S. dollars, mostly tax free. Illegal aliens take
March 31, 2008 5:56:20 pm
When Congress refuses to act, the several states may, if not forbidden by the Constitution, take the matters into their own hands. Sometimes, a groundswell effort is necessary to move dolts (Democrat or Republican).
As to the TVA police, their authority is limited to TVA property and the waterways.
April 1, 2008 12:00:03 pm
To help clarify the status of the TVA Police regarding their handling of illegal aliens I have written to the TVA Police Chief, T.H. Alford, copy below, for the edification of us all.
Off the top, any "sworn" officer of the U.S. Government with the authority to make arrests and to carry firearms wherever they may be assigned do swear to uphold the Constitution and our laws.
I do not believe that an officer can be selective in who they may arrest, for example, on land and properties owned or controled by the TVA. This one? - Yes. That one? - No.
I believe if a local police officer brings an illegal alien suspect to a sworn federal agent (a TVA police officer) that agent has no choice but to receive that person for processing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Anyway, here is my e-mail to TVA:"From: Ernest Norsworthy emnorsworthy@earthlink.net
Sent: Monday , March 31, 2008 8:47PM
To: thalford@tva.gov
Subject: TVA police jurisdiction
We have been discussing the TVA police jurisdiction. Can or should the TVA police arrest a suspected illegal alien? Also, if a local police officer brings a suspected illegal alien within TVA's police jurisdiction of the TVA police; can and will the TVA accept that suspected alien for further processing to ICE?
Thank you in advance for your early reply.
Ernest Norsworthy"
Dear readers, "early reply" is not in the TVA manual so don't hold your breath.
I have been waiting for weeks to hear from them about an abandoned dump site in Jackson County that the State of Alabama wants to clean up.
I received some partial answers but then they clammed up. (Know anybody over at the TVA who could help me out on this?) So much for "Sunshine Week" that just passed.
Ernest Norsworthy
April 1, 2008 2:09:35 pm
When I started reading your post, I wondered just how in the heck you were going to transition from illegal immigration to another TVA rant. Congratulations; you pulled it off.
April 2, 2008 8:21:01 am
Hey, Zippy thanks for the backhanded compliment.
But if you noticed, I responded to another's post about the TVA Police.
Anyway, I do have a little news on my request to the TVA Police about their handling of illegal aliens. They have referred it to Gil Francis, TVA PIO snd I do expect to be hearing from him soon.
Maybe he can help me out too, on some other requests for information from the TVA.
I'll keep you posted.
Ernest Norsworthy
P.S.
Doris, my lovely wife, and I are celebration our --th wedding anniversary today; everything is coming up roses!
Also, if I have an agenda with an "A" as has been averred, it better could be stated that I have an agenda with a "D"oris.
EN
April 2, 2008 5:19:51 pm
Well, the TVA came through much faster than I'm accustomed to and I have some answers from Gil Francis, TVA Public Information Officer.
Quoting directly from our correspondence:
"Mr. Gilbert O. Francis
Thanks for your reply for the TVA Police. What our discussion is about is some "what ifs" for example, what if the TVA Police encounters an illegal alien in TVA territory, would they be processed through ICE?"
ANS. "Yes, if they are arrested and detained, they will be processed by ICE."
"And another "what if". What if a suspected illegal alien who has been aprehended outside of TVA's police jurisdiction and brought to the TVA Police by a local police officer, would the TVA Police process that suspected illegal alien as if he were arrested in TVA's jurisdiction?"
ANS. "Local law enforcement officers can process illegal aliens in the same manner as TVA Police. There are so many "what ifs" that I am uncomfortable with responding to any further scenarios. This is very close to encroaching on TVA's security measures, therefore, I can not provide any additional actions TVA Police may take regarding this matter."
Please let me know if your answers can be that specific; I would appreciate it. I want to post your answer on a public Forum."
"Thanks for your cooperation.
Ernest Norsworthy"
So that must be a little comforting to know that at least the TVA will properly handle illegal aliens and the possibility that local police forces could look for some help from them if needed.
Ernest Norsworthy
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