The momentum around comprehensive immigration reform in the 113th Congress is exciting! And while the national discussion is both necessary and long-overdue, January also marks the convening of state legislative sessions.
We’re already seeing both positive and negative proposals coming out of the states. One example is a Montana legislator following up the unfortunate passage of LR-121 in November 2012 with a proposal to prohibit Montana cities from enacting immigrant sanctuary policies. Montana’s legislature is also considering a proposal to require cities to enforce anti-immigration laws.
Fortunately, other states are recognizing the contributions of immigrants in their communities and considering positive legislation. One exciting example is Colorado, where legislators recently introduced an equitable tuition bill, similar to the bill that passed in Maryland this past fall.
Additional legislation is sure to come and I’ll help you keep an eye on new developments each Thursday in these State Action Alerts. In the meantime, please consider joining LIRS and our interfaith partners advocating for comprehensive immigration reform during a national call-in day on January 22.