Lawmakers have killed more than two dozen wide-reaching proposals targeting illegal immigrants, from establishing English as the state?s official languageto requiring proof of citizenship for all public benefits.
Surviving, however, are a Democrat-sponsored study of the state?s immigration footprint and a task force to study the preservation of “heritage languages.” Both are victories for immigration advocates, but they say combating the annual crop of anti-immigration legislation is becoming increasingly difficult.
Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez, a founding member of the recently organized New Americans Caucus ? organized to combat anti-immigrant bills ? said this year saw a broader range of proposals, and debate for the first time infiltrated the state Senate, where two conservative members promoted pro-English legislation in their campaigns for the 1st Congressional District seat as well as a bill denying benefits to undocumented immigrants.
“This is an effort to provide real facts and stop these wild allegations that are consistently heard not only on the [House and Senate] floor, but in the media,” Gutierrez, a Montgomery County Democrat, said of the studies. “It?s recognition that we in the U.S. appreciate multilingual resources.”
Republicans introduced legislation to cut state aid from counties who pass “sanctuary” laws forbidding government employees from inquiring about a person?s legal status. Del. Anthony O?Donnell, the House Republican leader from Calvert County, backed legislation that would require all Marylanders to show proof of citizenship before receiving benefits like public housing and food assistance, a proposal modeled on legislation passed in Colorado.
O?Donnell said the proposals at least stimulated debate. He settled for the Democratic-lead study, saying a finding of net financial loss is all but inevitable.
“Our constituents are applying increasing pressure on elected officials to take a tougher stand ? to quit making Maryland a magnet state for illegal activity,” O?Donnell said. “Next year I think we will have to fish or cut bait.”
State officials said the legislation cost Colorado more than it saved. But a December 2007 report by the Congressional Budget Office said illegal immigrants cost state governments more in education, health care and public safety than they pay in taxes.
The study has yet to pass the state Senate, where Sen. Richard Madaleno Jr., a Montgomery County Democrat, said it could “dispel myths.”
“Let?s find out how much it costs to teach everyone to speak English instead of proposing mean-spirited, meaningless legislation,” he said.