Immigration bill should mirror Arizona plan, sheriff, state rep. sayStaff Report
HAMILTON — Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones and state Rep. Courtney Combs plan to ask legislators today, April 27, to back an immigration bill similar to Arizona’s in an attempt to crackdown on people living in Ohio illegally, according to Local 12 WKRC.
Jones and Combs said they would send a letter to the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, demanding that an immigration bill get unstalled and that Ohio follow Arizona’s lead on illegal immigration.
Last year Combs, R-Hamilton, introduced a bill that would require employers to check the Social Security numbers of new employees to assure they are in the country legally. Combs said in May 2009 the bill about giving jobs to Americans and taking away a paycheck from illegal immigrants during tough economic times.
Jones, who has gained a reputation of taking a hard line on illegal immigration, said the bill also is about giving law enforcement more teeth to stop illegal immigrants with fake documents.
As introduced last year, the bill would require all public and private employers to check Social Security numbers against the federal government’s free E-Verify system before hiring someone.
Their action comes as protests have erupted in Arizona, since the governor there signed an immigration bill into law last week. The bill makes being an illegal immigrant a state offense. Police can ask suspected illegals for documentation, and arrest them if they don’t have papers.
Opponents say the law will lead to rampant racial profiling and turn Arizona into a police state with provisions that require police to question people about their immigrant status. But supporters of the law, set to take effect in late July or August, say it is necessary to protect Arizonans from a litany of crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
