Bill Gets Tough On Illegal Immigration
1/14/2009
LITTLE ROCK – A bill filed Tuesday seeks to crack down on illegal immigration by, among other things, making it a felony in Arkansas to provide transportation or shelter to anyone who is in the country illegally.
House Bill 1093 by Rep. Bill Sample, R-Hot Springs, also would ban illegal immigrants from receiving college scholarships, in-state college tuition or other financial aid; require proof of citizenship or legal residence in the U.S. as a condition for obtaining an identification document; and require the Arkansas State Police to establish a unit to investigate the sale or distribution of false ID documents.
Other provisions would require authorities to check the immigration status of anyone arrested for a felony or driving while intoxicated and require public employers to check the work eligibility status of all new contracted employees.
“Our resources in this state are limited,” Sample said. “It’s the job of the Legislature to protect those resources and make sure that only citizens of the United States and Arkansas and those with legal status are receiving them.”
Harold