Political Cartoon

Find more immigration political cartoons at http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/immigration/ig/Immigration-Cartoons.

HB 1202 Raises Concerns for Texas Police Forces

Tim Eaton from the American-Statesman reported on Texas Legislature HB 1202 in an article published February 9, 2011. In addition to providing an overview of this pending legislation, if passed would make it a state jail felony to knowingly hire an undocumented immigrant, Eaton highlights significant concerns this bill raises among Texas police forces.

Luis Figueroa of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund is quoted in the article as he stated, “Police have neither the expertise nor the resources to determine someone’s work status, and officers who might raid a company wouldn’t necessarily know what documents to look for.”

Visit statesman.com to read the complete article: http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/new-bill-targets-employers-who-hire-illegal-immigrants-1244256.html

Similar concerns were voiced by Austin Police Department members in a recent news feature on Austin News, MSNBC:

Texas Lawmakers Prepare for Sanctuary City Battle

Julian Aguilar from The Texas Tribune reported on HB 12 in an article published on March 30, 2011.

HB 12 by Carrolton Republican Burt Solomons has advanced the furthest of all the immigration bills making it out of the State Affairs Committee. This bill would prohibit cities, counties, and other governmental entities from adopting a policy that prevents law enforcement from asking about a person’s immigration statues.

Governor Perry has stated he wants law enforcement to have the option to inquire about immigration status. He claims this is different from mandating inquiring immigration status, since it only gives law enforcement the power to “use discretion.”

The article suggests this bill would cost local governments, because more personnel and more jail space would be needed.

The original bill included school district employees, which led Democrats to protest how the policy would affect education. Under both state and federal constitutions schools must educate students regardless of their status. The modified bill excludes school district, charter school, and junior college employees, except for campus police.

The article can be found here: http://www.texastribune.org/texas-legislature/82nd-legislative-session/texas-lawmakers-prepare-for-sanctuary-city-battle/.

Political Cartoons

Find more immigration political cartoons at http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/immigration/ig/Immigration-Cartoons

Texas Turning Blue

The Washington Post reported today that nearly half of all Texans under 18 (48%) are Latino. These numbers represent a steadily increasing percentage of Latinos in Texas. As the Census Bureau figures show, Texas has joined the ranks as a majority minority state.

Latinos, who overwhelmingly vote Democratic, pose as a threat for Republicans, with the potential to turn things blue in Texas. What is the Republican response to this demographic shift? Op-Ed Columnist Harold Meyerson argues, “Republicans have elected to become increasingly white.”

In light of the recent political moves in Nevada, California and Colorado last fall to embrace restrictive polices similar to Arizona’s identification law, it would appear Republicans are embracing an anti-immigrant stance.

Last month, Texan anti-immigrant activists asked Texas to consider allowing districts with a disproportionate number of undocumented residents, be made larger than others to account for non-citizens. As Meyerson argues, this would  result in fewer Latino-majority and fewer democratic-majority districts.  

Are Republicans so desperate to keep their Texan electoral college cornerstone red, that they are willing to base success upon a continued stir of hostility towards minority representation?

Visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/01/AR2011030105589.html to read the entire article.

Texas immigration bills mirror Arizona’s law

Houston news KHOU reported that the top three issues in the Texas 82^nd legislative session are the state budget, redistricting, and immigration. At least 25 bills involving immigration have been filed, dealing with such issues as law enforcement, voter ID, health care, and employment.

There are some parallels to Arizona law including making it illegal not to carry immigration documents and law enforcement having the power to detain anyone they suspect with illegal immigrant status.

State Representative Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, filed a bill, which would exempt victims or witnesses from being asked about their immigration status.

State Rep. Jim Jackon, R-Carrollton, filed a bill that would require all employers to verify their employees’ immigration status through an “E-verify” program.

"Immigration bills at a glance include the following:


• SB 126, HB 623, SB 259, HB 311, HB 183



Five bills have been filed that would require law enforcement agencies to check immigration status and report any immigration violations to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.


• HB 623 would also make English the state’s official language.



• SB 124, HB 302, HB 113



Three bills filed would establish a $10,000 civil penalty for law officers who don’t report immigration violations to the federal government.



• HB 655



This bill limits eligibility for indigent health care to "sponsored aliens," i.e., those in the country legally on a permanent basis.

• HB 603



This bill would exempt victims and witnesses of a crime from immigration checks.


• HB 177



This bill would require employment eligibility to receive a driver’s license or identification.



• HB 601, HB 178, HB 140



Three bills require employers to use the E-verify system to check employees’ immigration status. HB 601 and HB 140 address state contractors. HB 170 requires government entities to use the federal program, and requires any employee responsible for failing to check an applicant’s immigration status to be fired."

Read full article here: http://www.khou.com/news/Texas-immigration-bills-mirror-Arizonas-law-116310524.html

Perry "Sanctuary Cities" Focus Offers Political Cover

On January 17, 2011, Ross Ramsey reported in The Texas Tribune that Governor Rick Perry had proclaimed sanctuary cities as an “emergency item” for the Texas Legislature. For the first 60 days of the 140-day session lawmakers cannot deliberate bills unless they are stated as emergencies.

Sanctuary cities are cities that do not allow police to enforce federal immigration laws. Perry states he is going to make it illegal for sanctuary cities to exist in Texas.

Read the full article here: http://www.texastribune.org/immigration-in-texas/immigration/perry-sanctuary-cities-focus-offers-political-cove/