Ohio considering Arizona’s anti-illegal immigrant law

Arizona’s anti-illegal immigration law is being discussed by Greater Cincinnati officials who want a similar law in Ohio.

Ohio is not alone in looking into anti-illegal immigration bills as they are among 12 to 17 states considering using the Arizona law as a prototype because they believe the federal government has failed to act in the past and it is now up to the states to protect themselves from being a haven for illegals coming across the Mexican border.

According to an article in The Sunday Enquirer on June 6, 2010, Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones and Republican State Rep. Courtney Combs of Ross Township traveled to Arizona to learn more about the anti-illegal immigration law, SB1070, and want to enact a similar bill giving police agencies similar power as that of federal agents to stop and detain suspected illegal immigrants.

One of the concerns of those proposing an Arizona-type anti-illegal aliens legislation in Ohio is the flow of drugs that are coming across the Mexican border.  They state that there is a pipeline into Butler County accompanied by criminal activity, including drug trafficking.

They quote the Cochise County Sheriff of Arizona as stating that 15 to 18 percent of people crossing the Mexican border illegally into the United States have criminal records. There are an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 illegal immigrants living in the area, with two of every three being Hispanics. The statistic is available on the internet with a much more details explanation, and you can also see it here. The legal population of Hispanics in the area is about 43,000 according to the 2008 Census estimates.They come to the Cincinnati area through what is called a word-of-mouth networks because, before the recession, there were better paid jobs and lower living costs that in other parts of the U.S.

The proposed legislation is being opposed by the League of Latin American Citizens of Ohio. One of the points being made is that Ohio would lose $4 billion in spending, $1.8 billion in economic output and more than 25,000 jobs.

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