Report on State Immigration Laws
Just a few years ago, state laws promoting immigration enforcement were the rage. Remember Arizona’s S.B. 1070 and Alabama’s H.B. 56? Now, states are returning to immigration and immigrant policy but are focusing on state independence from immigration enforcement through sanctuary and immigrant detainer laws.
Lawmakers in statehouses across the U.S. have approved 133 immigration-related laws this year, representing a 90 percent increase compared to 2016, according to a report issued by the National Conference of State Legislatures during its 43rd annual Legislative Summit in Boston.
The “Report on State Immigration Laws” summarizes laws and resolutions enacted between January and June 2017.
Lawmakers in 47 states enacted 133 laws and 195 resolutions related to immigration, totaling 328, according to the report.. An additional nine bills were vetoed by governors and 18 are pending signatures.
“States are coming up with innovative ways to address immigration issues—in education, health care, and economic development—that the federal government seems to ignore,” said Senator Rene Garcia, (R-Fla.).
A few trends of enacted laws include:
- 27 percent of all laws are budget and appropriations laws, authorizing funds for such purposes as providing for immigration enforcement, immigrant integration, English language and citizenship classes, and migrant and refugee programs.
- 21 percent of legislation related to law enforcement, such as immigration enforcement and consumer fraud related to legal services.
- 13 percent of legislation related to IDs/driver’s licenses and other licenses.
- 12 percent of laws dealt with education, addressing immigration and residency requirements for higher education, and six states included portions of the federal naturalization exam in high school civics requirements.
- 5 percent of laws related to health such as interpreters, eligibility criteria for Medicaid or licensing relating to health professionals.
- 7 percent of laws focused on employment, E-Verify, limiting workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance, or defining employment.
- 5 percent of laws addressed public benefits such as eligibility or special immigrant juvenile status.
- 4 percent of laws addressed human trafficking, such as penalties for withholding or destroying immigration documents, and providing assistance to victims.
KJ