The state Senate of Montana has passed a bill designed to curb undocumented immigrants from obtaining renewing state occupational licenses.  The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jim Shockley, R-Victor, passed 27-23.  As reported by the Associated Press, the bill introduced by Shockley is the first of four similar bills designed to restrict rights for undocumented immigrants.  He introduced the bills in response to what he views as a lack of initiative by the federal government.  “The problem is the Congress passes laws they don’t want the president to enforce.  And guess what, he doesn’t enforce them.” Shockley said.  

This is the first state bill of its kind to be passed; a similar bill was introduced into Colorado legislature in 2006, but failed and ended up costing taxpayers $2 million.  The state Senate was scheduled to vote on another anti-illegal-immigration bill sponsored by Shockley today.  This bill would make it a felony for an undocumented immigrant to register to vote.  

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The Daily Texan of Austin reports that members of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus announced a formation of a coalition of many Mexican-American business groups to combat what they consider a wave of anti-immigration legislation.  Notable members of the coalition include the Texas Association of Business, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the ACLU.   

The intent of the alliance is to keep legislation out of Texas concerning immigrants, and encourage federal legislation, one that stresses fair reform, to be implemented.  “It seems that everyday there’s a new bill that’s filed in the Texas Legislature that focuses exclusively on immigrants,” says Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas.  “We want to focus on issues that are within are purview and defer to Washington their jurisdiction.”  

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For more information on the immigration on Capital Hill, see our blog at www.visalaw.com/blog.html.

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