State Governments

1. State Governments Immigration Reform Amanda Williams Madelynn Montoya Andrew Davis

2. California • California Proposition 187 (1994) • To prohibit illegal immigrants from using social services, healthcare, and public education in California • Initially passed by voters, and later overturned by the federal court • California AB 335 (Signed 10/14/2007) • This law prohibits an alien who does not verify his or her “eligible alien status” from receiving temporary homeless relief shelter.

3. California • Main Issue: economic and fiscal impact due to immigration • California Regional Economies Project • 1 in 4 California residents are foreign born • 7% of those are undocumented • Immigration provides net economic benefits and negative fiscal impact • Many immigrants hope for a better education for their children, but it becomes a larger burden to tax payers

4. Arizona • In 2004, voters passed Proposition 200 • Requires that in order to vote, residents must present proof of U.S. citizenship • Applicants for certain public benefits must be verified as being lawfully present in the U.S. • Requires state and local agencies to report to U.S. immigration authorities benefits applicants who fail to prove they are lawfully present • In 2006, voters passed Proposition 300 • Makes anyone without lawful immigration status ineligible to be classified as an in-state student for purposes of tuition, grants, scholarship assistance, and financial aid • Restricts access to family literacy programs, adult education courses, and child care subsidies for undocumented immigrants

5. Arizona Continued… • Voters passed three additional anti-immigrant propositions and one “English only” proposition on Nov.7, 2006 • Proposition 100 • Denies bail for any person charges with a serious felony offense is the person charged entered or remained in the U.S. illegally • Proposition 102 • Prohibits a person who wins a civil lawsuit from receiving punitive damages if the person is present in the state in violation of immigration law • Proposition 103 • Require that “to the greatest extent possible,” official actions, services, programs, publications, documents, and materials be provided in English

6. Texas • Texas has the highest number of criminal immigration cases than any of theother border districts. • Approximately 240,000 illegal sex offenders • Cost of illegal immigration to Texas taxpayers • Health Care - $573 million • Education – $3.746 billion • Criminal Justice - $190 million •   Total cost burden - $4.5 billion • House Bill 47 (2008) • Requiring voter identification at the voting booth so that non citizens cannot vote • House Bill 48 • Creates penalties for employing illegal immigrants • House Bill 49 • Allows law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants • House Bill 50 • Stipulates that illegal aliens are not eligible for in-state tuition atstate universities

7. Colorado • Two referendums approved by voters on Nov.7, 2006 • Referendum H • Provides for punishing Colorado employers who hire unauthorized workers by prohibiting them from deducting wages paid to unauthorized workers as a business expense • Religious groups, immigrant advocacy groups, and others opposed the measure • Referendum K • Requires the state of Colorado to sue the federal government to demand enforcement of existing federal immigration laws • Courts ruled that they have no legal authority to settle what is essentially a political question regarding how much federal funding should go to the states to pay for federal mandates