New bills zero in on illegal aliens (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

By Brad Bumsted
STATE CAPITOL REPORTER

HARRISBURG -- Americans are fed up with inaction by the federal government on illegal immigration and that's why states and local governments increasingly are adopting laws and ordinances, state and local experts say.

"People don't believe that the efforts the federal government is making now -- with beefing up border patrols, raiding businesses -- are really doing anything about illegal immigration," said James Lee, president of Susquehanna Polling, who has conducted national and state polls on the issue.

But the actions taken by Hazleton Mayor Louis Barletta to crack down on illegal aliens in his city "hit a nerve with Americans," Lee said. "The support was universal, whether they were Republican or Democrat."

Hazleton's law targeting landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and businesses that employ them is being tested in federal court in Scranton. The nonjury trial on the lawsuit to overturn the ordinance is expected to conclude today.

Pennsylvania lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a package of bills to curb illegal immigration -- legislation they contend is broader than Hazleton's ordinance and designed to withstand legal challenges.

It's time to end the "illegal alien invasion" in Pennsylvania, said Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry. He and a few other Republican lawmakers proposed legislation aimed at shutting down benefits and jobs for illegal immigrants across the state.

The bills would require employers to enroll in a federal program to verify employees' Social Security numbers; require state police to negotiate an agreement with the federal government to enforce immigration laws; terminate professional licenses of any employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants; and eliminate all but emergency benefits for illegal immigrants, including welfare, education and unemployment benefits.

"Simply put, there should be no economic rewards, public benefits or employment privileges for anyone that is guilty of breaking our nation's immigration laws," said Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, a co-sponsor.

Larry Frankel, a lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union, one of the parties suing Hazleton, said a key issue is that the federal government -- not states and cities -- controls immigration. He doubts the Metcalfe package will advance, since it didn't pass during the last legislative session when Republicans controlled the House. Democrats took over in January.

"The Hazleton decision could tell us a lot," he said.

Since the city enacted its ordinance, many other communities across the country have approved similar laws -- citing a drain on taxpayer resources caused by illegal immigrants.

"The whole country is watching Hazleton," said Bev Cigler, a political science professor at Penn State University's Harrisburg campus.

Local governments are "taking action precisely because Washington has punted on the issue," said John Keeley, director of communications at the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington think tank.

Democratic Rep. Angel Cruz, of Philadelphia, opposes such legislation in Pennsylvania. He said it's "disgraceful that certain members of the state House would look to implement policies clearly set to punish individuals who are simply trying to provide for their families and become honest citizens."

The number of illegal immigrants in Pennsylvania isn't clear. Keeley estimates about 100,000. Kathleen Appell, media coordinator for Citizens for Immigration Control and Enforcement in Pennsylvania, cited sources showing a range of 90,000 to 200,000.

The state's foreign-born population -- not all of whom are illegal immigrants -- was 534,000, or 4.4 percent of the population, in 2005, Keeley said.

Mustio said the state legislation was designed to tackle issues not under federal control, such as state licenses. State taxes need to be collected from illegal residents, he said.

In 2006, 32 states passed immigration legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. There were 570 pieces of legislation filed.

Illegal immigration undoubtedly will be a topic in the 2008 presidential race, which could result in "some sort of federal action" on the issue, Penn State's Cigler said.

Immigration doesn't register as one of the top issues on polls, Lee said. But when people are asked about it, they give strong reactions. A national poll of 1,000 Americans last month showed support by a margin of 68 percent to 25 percent for Hazleton's policies, he said.