The Indiana House of Representatives is expected to vote soon on a Senate bill that seeks to crack down on businesses that hire undocumented immigrants, The Indianapolis Star reports.  The language of the bill contains most of the language of a previous bill passed by the state Senate in January, but failed to pass in the house after Democrats decided not to consider changes pushed by Republicans, who wanted the bill to also deny benefits to undocumented immigrants.   

The current proposed immigration bill gives businesses three ‘strikes’ before they could lose their licenses for employing undocumented immigrants and sets up a system for state and local police to enforce federal immigration laws.  Two changes from the old, stalled bill were made: language was removed that would have made it to illegal to harbor, transport, or conceal an undocumented immigrant; and the Indiana State Police would be compelled to enter into an enforcement agreement with the ICE.  House Republicans wanted to further amend the bill to include provisions that would deny social services to undocumented immigrants—language similar to an Indiana House bill defeated 74-19 two years ago.   

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People who wished to express their concern over Kansas ’ anticipated usage of the E-Verify system got their chance to be heard last week, when the state’s House Federal and State Affairs Committee held public hearings, according to The Associated Press.  E-Verify is a federal database designed to check whether a person has legal status to work, and imposes penalties on employers who knowingly hire undocumented immigrants.   

Kara Lineweber of El Centro , a Kansas City Hispanic advocacy group, said the state last year spent $1 million to audit public benefits and found only one undocumented immigrant.  "In a time when our state is facing budget constraints, we must ask ourselves, is this really an issue and how will we fiscally justify further legislation on this after spending a million dollars to find one immigrant?"  Lineweber said.   

Carlos Gomez, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, said the economies of several Kansas towns are tied to the immigration population, especially those with large packing plants like Dodge City , Garden City and Emporia .  "Government has the responsibility to give tools before it punishes or penalizes and there is no state or federal support to help employers to hire workers legally, Gomez said.  "There is no justification for this legislation unless you want to send the message that Hispanics aren’t welcomed in Kansas ."  

Amy Blankenbiller, Kansas Chamber president, said her group is part of a coalition of 36 business and agricultural groups opposed to mandatory E-Verify.  "It’s wrong to turn Kansas employers into policemen," she said.  "The business community will fight the penalties on business."  Allie Devine of the Kansas Livestock Association, a coalition member, called the legislation a "death penalty" for Kansas businesses.