States are working harder to make stricter immigration laws, group says.
State lawmakers across the U.S. have been ramping up efforts to pass stricter immigration laws in recent years. According to a report released by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the largest Latino civil rights organization in the country, there has been a significant increase in the number of proposed anti-immigrant laws. The report found that since 2020, state lawmakers have proposed 233 such laws, compared to 132 in 2023, 64 in 2022, 81 in 2021, and 51 in 2020.
These proposed laws aim to criminalize unauthorized entry into the U.S. at the state level, limit so-called “sanctuary” policies, address concerns about noncitizen voting attempts, and crack down on the hiring of undocumented workers. The report highlights how Republican state officials have been challenging the federal government’s authority to set immigration and border policy, with 97% of immigration measures proposed in state legislatures since 2020 sponsored by Republican lawmakers. Texas leads the way with 91 proposed laws.
While most of these proposals have not been enacted, some states with Republican-led legislatures have succeeded in passing them into law. For example, Texas passed a law known as SB4 last year, empowering state officials to arrest and prosecute migrants suspected of crossing into the U.S. unlawfully. This law faced legal challenges but remains blocked pending review.
Other states, like Iowa, Louisiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma, have enacted laws similar to SB4, which have also faced legal challenges. Arizona voters will soon decide on a ballot measure to make it a state crime for migrants to cross from Mexico outside of designated entry points. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a tough immigration law last year, increasing penalties for employers hiring unauthorized workers and creating new crimes related to illegal immigration.
Republican state leaders have attributed their push for stricter immigration laws to the surge in illegal crossings at the U.S. southern border, blaming President Biden’s policies for being too lax. However, LULAC has criticized these state measures as divisive and potentially leading to racial bias against Latinos, many of whom are undocumented immigrants.
LULAC’s CEO, Juan Proaño, emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform through bipartisan efforts in Congress, providing a clear pathway to citizenship and defining the asylum process. The organization has been in a legal battle with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who targeted LULAC members, alleging voter fraud. This has led LULAC to request a Justice Department investigation for potential civil rights violations.
Analysts point out that states have been reshaping immigration policy through lawsuits challenging federal policies. Texas and other Republican-led states have successfully halted or stalled immigration programs through litigation. With the immigration system being outdated and in need of reform, both federal and state governments are taking unilateral actions to address the challenges of the 21st century.
As the debate on immigration continues, it is clear that state lawmakers play a significant role in shaping policies and laws that impact immigrant communities across the country. The push for stricter immigration laws reflects a larger national conversation on border security, legal pathways for immigration, and the treatment of undocumented individuals in the United States.
