Southern states crack down on immigrants

Besides the high number of new immigrants arriving in Southern states, another reason for the big protests in the region this week are a wave of bills cracking down on immigrants in state legislatures. The Chicago Tribune offers this overview:

While much of the national debate has centered on the U.S. House bill that would crack down on undocumented workers, immigrant communities across the country are bracing for new state measures as well.

Almost 400 immigration-related bills have been introduced in 42 states since January, a result of the public outcry over the federal government's failure to secure America's borders, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. [...]

Georgia lawmakers recently passed a bill denying benefits such as unemployment compensation to adults in the U.S. illegally and withholding tax deductions from companies that knowingly employ them. The bill, which would take effect in July 2007 if Gov. Sonny Perdue signs it, also requires police to notify U.S. immigration officials when they arrest an illegal immigrant. [...]

In Virginia, lawmakers proposed blocking illegal immigrants from getting marriage licenses. Tennessee legislators introduced more than a dozen bills this session, including one that would train state troopers to seize illegal immigrants. Tennessee also recently stopped issuing driving certificates, which allowed illegal immigrants to drive without a driver's license, after officials found that some were using fake papers to obtain them. [...]

Florida already has stringent laws on education, health care and unemployment compensation. As in most states, children of undocumented workers in Florida are classified as non-residents and must pay higher out-of-state tuition to attend college. In 2004, immigrant children were denied access to Florida KidCare, which provides health insurance for minors. Seasonal farmworkers and construction workers are ineligible for unemployment payments. [...]