Minnesota GOP Introduces Arizona-Style Immigration Legislation

Minnesota GOP Introduces Arizona-Style Immigration Legislation

Minnesota House Republicans rolled out their own brand of Arizona-inspired immigration legislation Thursday, which they said was necessary to deal with the estimated 100,000 illegal immigrants in Minnesota.

The bill, introduced by State Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa), is called the "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act" and like its Arizona predecessor it would impose many of the most controversial measures put in place by that legislation.

The bill would create a Minnesota Illegal Immigration Enforcement Team and require immigrants to carry an "alien registration" card. The bill uses the same "reasonable suspicion" protocol that has generated criticism against Arizona's law.

The Minnesota State legislature will have to wait until next session to address the proposed bill.

"I'm confident that we're going to have a different legislature next year," Drazkowski told Politics in Minnesota. "I'm hopeful that that legislature will be much more receptive to helping us follow our federal immigration law, which is exactly what this bill would do."

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