Various states are looking to crack down on non US Visa holders.
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05 January 2011
More US states to craft bills tough on non US Visa holders
At least half a dozen US States have indicated they will propose bills similar to the controversial Arizona law to fight illegal immigration, despite a US federal court suspending central provisions of the Arizona statute.
The bills, led by Republicans, are part of what has been described as a wave of measures coming this year aimed at reducing illegal immigration.
Legislators have also announced measures to limit access to public colleges and other benefits for illegal immigrants, and to punish employers who hire workers without a US Visa.
At least five states have made efforts to cancel automatic United States citizenship for children born in the US to illegal immigrant parents, although opponents say that this would be unconstitutional as the power to grant citizenship resides with the federal government, not with the states.
Many states have become frustrated with Washington for lack of legislation on this issue and a failure to maintain border security.
It is not expected any movement on immigration issues will occur when Congress reconvenes this week because Republicans, who will control the House of Representatives, do not support an overhaul of immigration laws promised by President Barack Obama.
The states expected to introduce bills similar to Arizona's are Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
The American Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with their ESTA to the US Embassy.
