During the Biden administration, more than 11 million inadmissible aliens across 160 countries entered the U.S.—this includes nearly 400 individuals on the terror watch list. States will continue to suffer the consequences of this mass illegal immigration for decades and must fight back to uphold our country’s laws to stop illegal immigration.
What States Can Do:
Prohibit Sanctuary Cities
When local officials refuse to honor ICE detainer requests or bar law enforcement from sharing information with ICE, it endangers public safety, obstructs necessary law enforcement efforts, and creates safe havens for illegal aliens, especially those with additional criminal histories.
State lawmakers should prohibit any government entity or law enforcement agency from adopting sanctuary policies.
Protect Jobs for Americans
Employment is the top driver of illegal immigration. When employers hire unauthorized workers, they violate federal law, displace lawful workers, and depress wages. Federal law prohibits hiring unauthorized aliens, but enforcement is inconsistent, and many employers exploit loopholes with little-to-no consequence.
States should require all employers – public and private – to use the federal E-Verify program to confirm employment eligibility.
Empower Local Law Enforcement to Enforce Immigration Law
States must ensure that local law enforcement agencies are able to enforce immigration laws. The 287(g) program does that by giving police departments and sheriffs the ability to detain and transfer illegal aliens to federal custody. Despite its proven effectiveness, many agencies refuse to participate even while illegal immigration and preventable criminal activity increases.
States should require all law enforcement agencies to enter into written agreements with DHS to participate in the 287(g) program.
Stop Taxpayer Funding of Illegal Aliens’ Legal Fees
Citizens expect their government to uphold immigration laws, not fund efforts to resist them. Taxpayer-funded legal aid groups and nonprofits are receiving state grants and contracts to provide legal representation to deportable aliens. Deportation proceedings are a civil matter, and illegal aliens do not have a right to a taxpayer-funded attorney in civil proceedings.
State lawmakers should ensure that no state money goes directly or indirectly to support legal assistance for deportable aliens.
Hold Organizations Accountable for Concealing Illegal Aliens
States should penalize individuals and organizations when they knowingly shield illegal aliens from law enforcement detection or provide other aid such as housing, transportation, or financial and legal assistance that enables their unlawful presence.
Encouraging and facilitating the unlawful presence of aliens fuels the human trafficking pipeline, undermines the rule of law, strains public resources, and exposes communities to dangerous criminal networks such as drug cartels.
Strengthen Driver’s License and ID Laws
States should ensure that only legal residents are eligible for state-issued drivers licenses and ID cards.
When states allow unlawful aliens to obtain drivers licenses and ID cards, it undermines immigration law, compromises public safety, and increases opportunities for fraud. These legal documents are not only keys to the road—they are often gateways to illegally access voting, banking, public services, and other benefits.
Charge Tuition for Illegal Alien Students
State lawmakers should charge tuition for illegal alien K-12 students unless and until they are deported or obtain lawful status.
The Biden administration burdened states and localities with unsustainable public education expenditures by facilitating and enabling mass migration. Some will claim that such a law is unconstitutional according to Plyler v. Doe. However, the issue deserves to be reconsidered in the courts. Such a state law can well withstand judicial scrutiny, and the Supreme Court should be given the opportunity to overturn Plyler v. Doe.