States Must Fend for Themselves on Immigration Problem

The emergence of Arizona Sen. John McCain as the presumptive GOP presidential nominee has seemingly pushed illegal immigration off the primary national agenda. But as the March 17 State Net Capitol Journal reports, states have more than made up for the lack of comprehensive federal immigration reform. Since 2007, many states have in fact enacted extremely tough anti-immigrant measures aimed directly at employers who hire illegal workers, with several more states poised to join them in the near future. To date, 36 states have considered 250 such immigration-related measures with 15 states having gotten those bills beyond the house of origin.

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) March 20, 2008 -- The emergence of Arizona Sen. John McCain as the presumptive GOP presidential nominee has seemingly pushed illegal immigration off the primary national agenda. But as the March 17 State Net Capitol Journal reports, states have more than made up for the lack of comprehensive federal immigration reform. Since 2007, many states have in fact enacted extremely tough anti-immigrant measures aimed directly at employers who hire illegal workers, with several more states poised to join them in the near future. To date, 36 states have considered 250 such immigration-related measures with 15 states having gotten those bills beyond the house of origin.

"This nettlesome issue cries out for a federal solution, but with immigration off the national radar screen, the states have been left to fend for themselves," reports Lou Cannon, who authored the SNCJ story. "Given its economic significance and emotional nature, illegal immigration will doubtless continue to be a subterranean issue in American politics even if it lacks primacy in the presidential campaign."

To get the full story, visit the State Net Web site at www.statenet.com. For additional information on this topic, see "Will Immigration Crackdown Have Business Backlash?" at http://www.statenet.com/capitol_journal/02-11-2008/html.

About State Net

State Net (www.statenet.com) has helped organizations track legislative and regulatory developments for more than 30 years. Headquartered in Sacramento, CA, State Net monitors every bill in the 50 states, District of Columbia and Congress along with all state agency regulations. The company delivers online services, issue-based consultation and analysis that enables the nation's leading organizations to effectively respond to opportunities and risks in the states.

State Net Capitol Journal delivers coverage of public policy issues from all 50 states. Featuring analysis of emerging trends, state budgets, governors, legislatures and elections, Capitol Journal readers gain an intelligent overview of the major political issues and events in state governments.

References: Cannon, Lou. (2008, March 17). "The Issue That Didn't Bark" State Net Capitol Journal. www.statenet.com

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