On Wednesday, March 12, 2008, the MCC co-sponsored an Immigration Lobby Day with the Missouri Immigrant and Refugee Advocates. More than 70 citizens showed up to lobby legislators in opposition to HB 1463, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Nolte (R-Gladstone) and HB 1886, sponsored by Rep. Ed Emery (R-Lamar).

HB 1463 would require Missouri colleges and universities to certify to legislative appropriation committees that they have not knowingly enrolled any illegal immigrants. During debate Rep. Tim Flook (R-Liberty) offered an amendment which would allow immigrants with pending applications for permanent residency status to enroll in a college or university on a provisional basis. Although the amdnement was clearly germane to the bill, House leadership ruled the amendment out of order. The bill was passed by the House and is now pending in the Senate Pensions, Veterans’ Affairs and General Law Committee.

HB 1626, sponsored by Rep. Ed Emery (R-Lamar) would deny a variety of public benefits to undocumented immigrants. The MCC, the Jewish Federation, and others have expressed concerns that the bill may require parishes, Catholic Charities agencies and other agencies contracting with state agencies to ensure that all recipients have legal status. In response legislators are considering an amendment that would exempt not for profit and religious organizations. The MCC has argued that immigration legislation should not impede churches from performing their traditional role of providing humanitarian assistance to the poor including both legal and undocumented immigrants. The bill is currently pending on the House Calendar for debate.

Other anti-immigrant bills include House Bill 1549, sponsored by Rep. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis), requires law enforcement officers to inquire into the citizenship and immigration status of any person placed under arrest and to verify the legal status of a noncitizen with the federal government.

House Bill 1771, sponsored by Rep. Kenny Jones (R-California), requires law enforcement officials to verify the immigration status of a person charged with a crime within 48 hours through the United States Department of Homeland Security. Upon verification that the person is an illegal alien, the law enforcement agency must notify the Department of Homeland Security.

House Bill 1395, sponsored by Rep. Gary Dusenberg (R-Blue Springs), prohibits sanctuary cities in Missouri.

House Bill 2366, sponsored by Rep. Mark Parkinson (R-St. Charles) keeps illegal immigrants from obtaining drivers licenses and punishes those who might help them obtain a drivers license.

On the Senate side the Senate approved and sent to the House sweeping legislation relating to immigration. The legislation – SS/SCS/SB 858 sponsored by Senator Scott Rupp (R-Wentzville) – seeks to implement Governor Blunt’s call to prohibit public assistance to undocumented persons and to crack down on businesses that hire such persons.

Two amendments proposed by Sen. Jeff Smith (D-St. Louis City) and accepted by the Senate addressed some of the MCC concerns. One amendment added a broad exception to the prohibition on undocumented children attending public colleges and universities in Missouri. As amended the legislation will now allow undocumented persons to enroll in Missouri’s colleges and universities if they were born on or before August 28, 2008.

The second Smith amendment accepted by the Senate seeks to mitigate the negative effects of provisions that make it unlawful to transport or harbor undocumented persons. The amendment declares that individuals will not be liable for transporting an undocumented person for the purpose of transporting them to a medical facility, soup kitchen, institution for crisis counseling and intervention, or short-term shelter, or for sheltering such an alien who has been the victim of abuse.

Another provision previously adopted in committee and retained in the bill approved by the Senate responds to yet another MCC concern by clarifying that nonprofit organizations are not responsible for verifying legal status when providing humanitarian assistance.

Despite these various improvements, the legislation remains flawed and will negatively impact the lives of undocumented persons. Action now moves to Missouri House where the MCC will work for the adoption of additional amendments.