2015 Immigration Report
8/3/2015
Table of Contents
What are the Numbers?
Trends
Legislation By Category
(Pie Chart)
Categories of Immigration-Related Laws (Table)
Ann Morse
Gilberto Mendoza
Introduction
In the first half of 2015, enacted legislation related to immigration increased by 16 percent to 153 compared with 132 laws in 2014. The number of resolutions bounced back to 238 after last year’s sharp decline to 84. Lawmakers in 46 states and Puerto Rico enacted 153 laws and 238 resolutions related to immigration, for a total of 391. An additional 10 bills were vetoed by governors and 20 are pending signatures. Four states did not enact immigration-related legislation in the first half of 2015: Alaska, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Ohio. The increase can be explained in part because every state was in regular session in 2015, unlike 2014 when five states were not in session.
Trends
Education. Seven states—Arizona, Idaho, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah—have found their own use for the federal exam for immigrants to become naturalized citizens. Portions of the test have been added to high school civics curricula and testing requirements. Connecticut reduced the requirement for an unauthorized student to attend high school from four years to two to be classified as a student eligible for in-state tuition. Utah provided an exemption to verification of lawful presence for privately funded scholarships administered by colleges or universities. Missouri barred in-state tuition and scholarship funds for students with unlawful immigration status, including students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Driver’s Licenses. Delaware and Hawaii enacted legislation to give unauthorized immigrants driving privileges.
Health. California extended Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, to children under 19 ineligible for Medicaid because of their immigration status. Georgia permitted licensing for foreign-trained nurses. Oregon required the use of certified or qualified health care interpreters to ensure accurate and adequate health care for those with limited English proficiency.
Human Trafficking. Arkansas required law enforcement agencies to adopt a policy for the completion and signing of T and U non-immigrant visa certification forms for human trafficking victims. Puerto Rico offered assistance to immigrant victims of human trafficking.
Law Enforcement. Arizona amended its law related to building to a border fence. California added protections for consumer fraud related to immigration services to include presidential executive actions. Nevada added penalties for employers that advertise notary public services as a “notario” unless the individual is a lawyer licensed to practice in the state.
Public Benefits. Rhode Island’s law states that homeless people have a right to services regardless of political or religious beliefs, immigration status, disability, gender, etc., and created a committee to regulate shelter services. Maine and Utah clarified eligibility for general assistance of certain noncitizens.
Task forces/offices. California established a statewide director of immigrant integration. Minnesota created three ethnic councils: the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs; Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage; and the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans.
Seven states adopted resolutions seeking action from Congress or the administration. These include requesting support for comprehensive immigration reform (California, Nevada); action against illegal fishing (Louisiana, Texas); requesting an additional 25,000 refugee visas for displaced Iraqis (Michigan); restoration of federal health care for residents present under the compacts of free association (Hawaii); reimbursement to the state for the financial burden of securing the Mexico border (Texas); and alternatives to the detainment of immigrant families seeking asylum in this country (New Mexico). Other resolutions addressed refugee resettlement (South Carolina); genocide prevention and awareness month (Georgia); and a review of health and law enforcement policies related immigrant communities (Puerto Rico).
E-Verify. Indiana required contractors to submit case verification numbers before work begins on a public work project. Texas mandated E-Verify for state agencies.
Employment. Washington created an agricultural labor skills and safety grant program for workers in the state and allowed participation by seasonal migrant workers who intend to return to Washington for agricultural work.
Voting. Connecticut required “drive only” licenses to contain language on the back indicating that they cannot be used for voting. North Dakota created a legislative management study relating to verification of citizenship status for voting and for issuance of driver’s licenses to noncitizens.
Refugees. Texas required stakeholder meetings in communities proposed for refugee placement.
Immigration Laws Map Jan - June 2015
Legislation By Category
Enacted Immigration Legislation
The largest category—23 percent of all laws—are budget and appropriations laws, authorizing funds for such purposes as providing for immigration enforcement, English language and citizenship classes, and migrant and refugee programs.
Fifteen percent of laws dealt with education, addressing immigration and residency requirements for higher education, and this year, states included portions of the federal naturalization exam in high school civics requirements.
Fourteen percent of laws related to health such as health equity, interpreters, eligibility criteria for Medicaid or licensing relating to health professionals.
Legislation related to law enforcement, such as immigration enforcement and consumer fraud related to legal services, accounted for 10 percent.
Legislation related to ID’s/driver’s licenses and other licenses made up 12 percent of all enacted laws on immigration.
Six percent of laws were focused on employment, E-Verify, limiting workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance, or defining employment.
Five percent of laws addressed public benefits such as case management, child welfare and adoption.
Five percent of laws addressed human trafficking, such as penalties for withholding or destroying immigration documents and providing assistance to victims.
Methodology: This report summarizes laws and resolutions enacted between January and June 2015. Laws included in this overview address legal immigrants, migrant and seasonal workers, refugees or unauthorized immigrants. Terms used in this report by and large reflect those used in the state legislation. In some state legislative language, unauthorized immigrants are also described as “illegal immigrants,” “undocumented immigrants” or “aliens.”
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http://www.ncsl.org/research/immigration/2015-immigration-report.aspx#cateorgies of immig related laws
