state policies

An Alabama House and Senate conference committee agreed on a new bill, which both chambers have already passed, that requires the use of E-Verify by all businesses in the state and includes several immigration enforcement provisions. Should Gov. Robert Bentley sign the bill into law, it would become one of the largest state crackdowns on illegal immigration in the country.

The Louisiana State Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that would require state contractors to use E-Verify. The bill passed by a 34-to-1 margin. It now heads to the House for consideration.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed Georgia's immigration enforcement bill earlier today that requires businesses in the state with more than 10 employees to use E-Verify. The bill also cracks down on individuals that transport or harbor illegal aliens and allows police to check the immigration status of certain suspects and arrest them if they are found to be in the country illegally.

Gov. Mitch Daniels signed Indiana's new E-Verify and legal presence bill on Tuesday, capping a four-year effort led by State Sen. Mike Delph. The bill requires state and local government contractors to use E-Verify and also creates a penalty for private businesses that don't use E-Verify.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer announced on Monday that she is petitioning the Supreme Court to lift the injunction against some of the enforcement provisions of SB1070 that were put into place by a federal district judge and upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Both courts ruled that four provisions, including one that allows police officers to check the immigration status of individuals they stop, detain, or arrest, usurps federal authority of immigration enforcement.

Hemet, Calif. in Riverside County unanimously passed a new ordinance requiring all businesses in the city to use E-Verify. The ordinance goes into effect on June 9.

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer signed HB 178 into law on Monday - a bill that requires the state to electronically verify legal presence before issuing a Montana driver's license or state identification card.

The Indiana House and both chambers of the Alabama legislature have approved legislation that would require businesses in the state to use E-Verify. The bill approved in Indiana is the tougher of the two, requiring most employers to check new hires through E-Verify, while the Alabama bill requires limited use of E-Verify.

The Alabama House overwhelmingly passed, 73-to-28, an E-Verify measure on Tuesday that requires all businesses to check new hires through the system. The bill also allows police officers to check the immigration status of individuals detained or arrested and requires verification of citizenship before receiving public services.

A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California indicates that Arizona's illegal aliens population declined after the state passed the Legal Arizona Workers Act in 2007 that required all businesses to use E-Verify.

The Georgia House approved legislation today that will require the mandatory use of E-Verify by a 113-to-56 margin. In addition to mandating E-Verify, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011 (HB 87) would also allow local law enforcement officers to run immigration status checks under certain circumstances and establish penalties for knowingly harboring or transporting illegal aliens.

An Arizona-style immigration enforcement bill has passed through the Indiana Senate, 31-to-18, and now moves to the House for approval. The comprehensive bill, introduced by State Sen. Mike Delph, would require the use of E-Verify and allow local police to check immigration status in certain situations.

The Kansas State House has repealed an existing law that allows illegal aliens to receive in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher learning. Current Kansas law allows illegal aliens who attended a Kansas high school for at least three years and graduated to receive the tuition benefit. The bill to reverse that law passed 69-to-49.

A Virginia State Senate Committee has unanimously approved a bill (SB1049) that would require the mandatory use of E-Verify for all state contractors with at least 50 employees and a contract with the state for more than $50,000. The original bill, offered by Democratic State Sen. George Barker, would have applied to all state contractors, but the Courts of Justice passed the bill with a substitute amendment containing the new limitations.

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez signed an executive order on Monday that requires police to ask people they've arrested for their immigration status. The executive order rescinds a policy that prohibited police from asking about an individual's immigration status that was established by former-Governor Bill Richardson.

A bill that would make E-Verify mandatory for most employers in the state and a bill that would tighten admissions to state colleges and universities have been approved by the House Immigration Subcommittee. Both bills (HB1727 and HB1465) passed the subcommittee with a 4-to-2 vote.

Newly elected Maine Governor Paul LePage, in one of his first acts in office, signed an executive order allowing state agents to check immigration status of individuals they come in contact with. Gov. LePage's order rescinds a previous executive order that prevented state agencies from inquiring about an individual's immigration status.

A coalition of state legislators from 40 states unveiled a plan this morning to end the practice of giving automatic citizenship to all children born in the United States. Led by Pennsylvania State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, the group timed their press conference with the swearing in ceremony of the 112th Congress, hoping to send a message that Congress needs to actively address illegal immigration.