Immigration Bills Filed
Today, November 8, 2010, marks the first day that legislators can file bills for the 82nd Legislative Session. Almost 400 bills have already been filed, including nine bills by Rep. Debbie Riddle (R-Tomball) and two by Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) on various issues relating to immigration. Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), Rep. Dan Flynn (R-Van) and Rep. Burt Solomons (R-Carrollton) have also filed immigration bills.
Rep. Riddle “camped out” at the Capitol for 36 hours before pre-filing started so that she could be the first to file her bills. Her first bill, HB 16, would require voters to provide photo identification at the polls. This bill failed to pass in the 80th and 81st Legislative Sessions and was the catalyst for the week of chubbing that caused a meltdown at the end of the last session. Luis Figeroa from the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund has said, “Obviously, the prospect of a voter ID bill passing has increased with the recent elections. We hope to address voter ID in a way that will not only ensure security and reduce fraud, but that will increase access to all Texas voters.”
Rep. Riddle and Sen. Patrick have joined in filing Arizona-style legislation that would punish state and local government for failing to fully enforce federal immigration law (HB 18/SB 124), would make trespassing on public or private property a criminal offense for illegal immigrants (HB 17), and would allow police officers to check immigration status on “reasonable suspicion” (HB 17/SB 126). A bill by Rep. Burt Solomons would require police officers to verify a person’s immigration status after he/she has been arrested (HB 183). Though the Arizona immigration law went into effect at the end of July 2010, a federal judge struck down provisions that required officers to check a person’s immigration status when enforcing other laws.
Four bills (HB 140, HB 178, HB 202 and SB 84) have been filed that would require businesses to use the E-Verify system to validate their employees' citizenship status. E-Verify is an internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility. Participation in E-Verify is currently voluntary.
Other bills include HB 21 by Rep. Riddle that would require agencies to report the direct and indirect costs of providing services to immigrants, HB 22 by Rep. Riddle which would require schools to collect the citizenship status of their students, and HB 177 by Rep. Solomons which requires proof of citizenship to get a driver’s license.
More immigration bills will be filed in the upcoming weeks and months. Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler) who is known for his strong anti-immigration policies has said he will file bills relating to a surcharge on wire transfers between the US and Mexico, birthright citizenship, and the prohibition sanctuary cities in the next week or so.
The faith community recognizes the need for immigration reform and affirms that all persons, regardless of national origin, are members of the family of God. In Exodus 23:9, God commands: “Do not mistreat or oppress the stranger; you know how it feels to be a stranger because you were sojourners in the land of Egypt." Clergy and faith groups from various traditions have called for immigration reform that that enforces laws in a manner consistent with humanitarian values, reduces waiting times for families that have been separated by immigration, provides a clear process for illegal immigrants to earn citizenship upon the completion of certain criteria, and expands legal avenues for immigrants to enter the United States.
Below are denominational resources about immigration policy in the US:
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Refugee & Immigration Ministries
Evangelical Lutheran Church in American Immigration Issues
Presbyterian Church (USA) Immigration Issues
United Methodist Church Immigration Resources
United Church of Christ Immigration Issues
American Jewish Committee
