Several states are looking to implement immigration laws similar to Arizona’s. However, as state legislatures begin looking at the logistics of enforcing such laws, they are finding that it is not financially plausible for many states.
It has been nine months since the Arizona Law was signed into effect, immediately afterwards there was a rush for other states to follow suit, but since then many of these measures have stalled or all out died.
There has been talk among law enforcement officials as to how laws like Arizona’s could actually be enforced without major added costs on already strained budgets.
Some states looking to pass immigration laws comparable to Arizona’s include Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Utah, South Carolina, and Texas. However, legislators in these states are running into issues with the public not wishing to enforce the harsher sections of Arizona’s Bill.
The enactment of strict immigration laws also has concerned politicians turning their sights to 2012.
At a recent conference organized by the new Hispanic Leadership Network, former Florida governor Jeb Bush (R), who has criticized the Arizona law, noted the importance of Latino voters.
“Hispanics will be the swing voters as they are today in the swing states.” Bush said. “If you want to elect a center-right president of the United States, it seems to me you should be concerned about places like New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Texas, places where but for the Hispanic vote, elections are won and lost.”
