Legislative hearings open on heated illegal alien topic

Hearings set for this week at the state Capitol on immigration-enforcement proposals could be a preview of how contentious the topic will be next session.

Several lawmakers say they're interested in legislation that mirrors the immigration-enforcement law that took effect in Arizona this year.

The statute requires law enforcement officers to check the status of people suspected of being in the country illegally. A federal judge's ruling, however, has put parts of the law on hold.

Senate Judiciary A Committee Chairman Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, who scheduled the hearings for Tuesday and Wednesday, said he wants to hear from proponents and detractors.

"I certainly think the folks who pushed the Arizona bill have a point. If there are illegal immigrants in our state, law enforcement should have the tools available to them to address the situation," Fillingane said. "There's also some strong arguments made by those who have legitimate concerns."

Nsombi Lambright, executive director of the state American Civil Liberties Union, said the immigration measure is nothing more than racial profiling.

Lambright, who will speak at the hearings, said she'll point to the Jackson City Council's approval last week of an anti-racial profiling ordinance as evidence there's not much appetite for the immigration proposal.

The city's ordinance prohibits law officers from questioning or arresting residents based solely on immigration status, physical characteristics, sexual orientation or gender identity. However, the ordinance doesn't apply if officers are looking for a suspect that fits a certain description.

The ordinance passed on a 6-1 vote by the majority-black council.
Lambright said she'd like to see other cities around the state follow Jackson's lead.

As for the immigration proposal, Lambright said it would only burden the state's law enforcement system.

No one has an exact figure for the state's illegal immigrant population, but few would argue it has grown over the years.

"We know if we have problems with law enforcement right now in terms of racial profiling, and not having racial sensitivity training, an immigration law like this would add extra problems to a system already flawed," Lambright said.

Fillingane said he will give the issue a thorough review.

Among those expected to appear at the hearings are Department of Public Safety Commissioner Steve Simpson; Rims Barber of the Mississippi Human Services Coalition; Mississippi NAACP President Derrick Johnson; Dr. Rodney Hunt, president of the Mississippi Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement; and Bill Chandler, executive director of the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance.

Hunt, a dentist, said he began educating himself "about the problems with illegal immigration" after federal officials brought an immigrant to him for treatment shortly after the terrorist attacks of 2001. Hunt said he later learned the man had been in the country for more than two years before he was taken into custody.

"My focus is really on jobs and social benefits," Hunt said. "There are thousands of jobs taken here by illegals that could go to residents."

Hunt said he's urging MFIRE supporters to contact House members to push for a floor vote on immigration legislation. In previous years, such bills often passed in the Senate, but died in House committees.

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