Ohio's Own Anti- Immigration Bill Mirrors HR 4437 : Cleveland IMC (((i)))

At a press conference at the Statehouse in Columbus, OH last Thursday Aug. 3rd, Republican legislators uncovered their proposed Illegal Alien Enforcement Act which they hope to work hard for its passage when they resume sessions in September.

Senate President Bill Harris, a Republican from Ashland said, "We continue to hear from our constituents that something needs to be done and it needs to be done now." He went on to say illegal aliens are taking jobs from legal ohio citizens and putting stress on the local governments in the areas of law enforcement and public assistance.
John Husted, a Republican from Kellering said people want to see tougher federal laws against illegal immigration. He said some of the main purposes of the proposed plan are to protect Ohio jobs and businesses that follow the law as well as support legal immigrants and assist them in their stay here.

The main proposals of the bill are:
--create a full time investigative state office to help federal officials in their hunt for the undocumented,
--partner local law enforcement officers with federal immigration authorities so they can handle offenders,
--impose a 50,000 dollar fine for those who possess counterfeit Identification documents, and
--require state agencies to verify the legality of a person before providing social services.

Most Democrats oppose the bill. C.J Prentiss, Senate Minority Leader from Cleveland struck it down right away. She and others feel it is just a fandangle by the GOP to let the public know they are tough on crime before the Nov. 2 elections. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Columbus said, "This deserves more than gimmickry and sloganeering. Today's proposal looks like another desperate attempt by the GOP to distract Ohioans from their own miserable 12 year record of lost jobs and missed opportunities."

Jose Luis Mas, a member of the Ohio Hispanic Coalition who attended the press conference feels this proposed bill mirrors HR 4437, the anti-immigration house bill that drew historic protests all over the country in late March for its anti human undertones. Since there is a stalemate between the proposed federal house and senate bills, he sees this Ohio bill as an attempt by the states to forward the passing of the house bill by enacting similar ones in their own districts. Mr. Mas, who rejects the term "illegal alien" said that in Franklin county alone, 80% of the estimated 70,000 Hispanics are undocumented but desperately want to become US citizens. The argument was, and still is today: Do not criminalize us. We are here. We are human beings. Let us become citizens. Realize our value to this country. Treat us right.

Ruben Castilla Herrera is leading the way in citizen opposition to this new Ohio legislation. To reach him by phone, call 614 571 1750.

Why does this article not list phone numbers for those people who are fighting FOR the legal citizens of this state? What if we want to help THEM instead of the illegals?

If you want phone numbers to xenophobic hate-mongers, then you should TRY going to a DIFFERENT website. You should also LEARN how to properly USE your CAPS LOCK.

Cleveland Indy Media Center