States consider own Arizona-like immigration plans

Could versions of Arizona’s controversial new immigration law be passed in other states? Despite the growing backlash against the measure politicos and police in several states are considering their own hard-line actions.

• Utah: State Rep. Stephen Sandstrom has drafted a bill similar to that in nearby Arizona and claimed that most Utahans would support him.
• Ohio: Several officials including Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones have urged Gov. Ted Strickland to "to employ your leadership role as Governor to assure legislation is passed that will mirror that of the illegal immigration legislation".
• Georgia: Gubernatorial candidate Nathan Deal said that if he were elected he would “pass and sign similar legislation" to that in Arizona. (As a former congressman Deal backed the barring of illegal immigrants from participating in the health care reform act and tried to block citizenship for babies born in the U.S. to undocumented parents).
• Maryland: Worried over a possible exodus of illegal immigrants hundreds of miles northeast to Maryland, State Delegate Pat McDonough said he would back anti-immigration legislation.
• Texas: Rep. Debbie Riddle said that in January she would introduce her own version of the Arizona immigration bill “to make sure that the safety and security of Texans is well-established".
  

Opposition to the Arizona law has not only been domestic but international too. As we mentioned yesterday, Mexico’s government has increased its political pressure including issuing a travel warning for Arizona. And even though she is best known for her songs and charitable efforts Shakira will purportedly meet with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon as part of a campaign against the new law.

Image- The Telegraph (A US Border Patrol officer walks beside the border fence that divides the US from Mexico in the town of Nogales, Arizona.”)
Online Sources- The Weekly, WMAR, Salt Lake Tribune, Cincinnati.com, Dallas Morning News, The Latin Americanist, Reuters