Missouri Immigration Bill Copies Alabama, Would Require Schools To Check Student Immigration Status

In a move similar to ones chided by federal courts in Alabama and Arizona, one Kansas City area lawmaker has proposed a bill that would require Missouri schools to check the immigration status of its students.

Republican state Sen. Will Kraus' bill would also allow police to question a person's citizenship at traffic stops and makes it a state misdemeanor not to carry proper citizenship documentation.

The U.S. Department of Justice last October blocked portions of an immigration law in Alabama that drove Hispanics away from the state and their children out of schools. While federal judges let stand part of the law that allows police to check a person's immigration status during a traffic stop, the court barred a provision mandating schools to check students' citizenship status and overrode the allowance of misdemeanor filings for those who don't carry federal registration papers. The federal decision sparked a heated spat between the Justice Department and the Alabama Attorney General.

Kraus' copycat bill aims to "track noncitizens in public schools in order to get an accurate set of data," the Kansas City Star reports. Schools would be required to ask new students for a birth certificate or proof of legal immigration, but would still be able to attend school if they or their parents are undocumented. All information collected will be kept confidential. From the Star:

Kraus’ bill would require that schools turn data collected over to the state Board of Education, which would compile and submit an annual report to the General Assembly. The report would contain information regarding immigration classifications of enrolled students and numbers of participants in English as a second language programs, as well as the cost to the state of their education.

The report also would attempt to analyze the impact of educating noncitizens on the quality of education provided to students who are citizens.

Kraus says that the bill is part of an effort to pressure Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster to sue the federal government to recoup costs of enforcing federal immigration laws.

"I asked my office to reach out to state agencies to find out who actually tracked the cost of illegal immigration on Missouri taxpayers. The results were underwhelming as we found most agencies have no idea of the true cost to taxpayers," Kraus said in a statement Tuesday. "Immigration is ultimately a federal issue and the solution will be a federal solution. But until a solution is reached, the impact of the federal government’s lack of enforcement is being felt at the state level. As fiscal stewards of our residents' tax dollars, we have a responsibility to determine that impact."

Still, St. Louis Attorney Ken Schmitt told KMOX that the bill would spook families, inciting many to pull their children out of school or flee the state.

"The intent of the statutes is to have happen exactly what has happened in Alabama," Schmitt, chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association Missouri/Kansas Chapter, told KMOX.

Listen To Kraus talk to KMOX's Mark Reardon about the bill:

Listen to Schmitt talk to KMOX about the bill:

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[jasondeluxe]

02:57 PM on 01/20/2012

The GOP, I'm glad we have this political party to champion bold, novel and innovative ideas for a new century.

Earnestly considered, nuanced policy initiatives such as: picking on Dora The Explorer, advocating teaching children that Adam and Eve were in the triceratops wrangling business and making yuck faces at anyone who isn't straight.

Truly a party of intellectual giants.

[DCOPIT]

04:17 PM on 01/18/2012

My mother's family were one of the first families of Saint Louis Missouri. My 5th Great Grandfather's signature was on the document incorporating the city. They live there still. My father's family came here from Mexico when the goverment were asking and importing a Mexican work force. They worked just as hard to create the nation that served all of us.

I never thought I would be ashamed of the state of Missouri. We may as well put a "Closed" sign on the Statue of Liberty, since those words have lost all meaning.

[spytheweb]

02:15 PM on 01/20/2012

There were many foreigners who were turned back under the shallow of the SOL. Families were separated and sent home. It's not a foreigner's right to get free passage into America. Why should we take criminals, the sick, the unskilled, the uneducated and the welfare cases of the world. We have our own problems and our own children we have to provide for.

These illegals have their own country, when are they going to smarten up and get on the ball and do something about their situation? No nation allows unchecked, unlimited numbers of illegal alien into their country, that is if they still want a country with any kind of standards.

DCOPIT, maybe you would be more proud if you moved to Mexico and lived under their rule.

[pphhrogg]

05:46 PM on 01/16/2012

You Missourians think this WASTE of your state's money (since this bill WIL have to be defended in court IF it is passed) is OK? I pity you if you do.

[spytheweb]

02:22 PM on 01/20/2012

All you need is when the kids are registered for school require that the parent's/child's SS number on the form. 

Any requirement does not deny any schooling. Illegal aliens must hide among US citizens. They don't want anyone one to know they are illegal aliens. I bet alot of these kids don't know they are illegal aliens because their parents are still lying to them. This law would let them know.

[CrestedSparrow]

05:30 PM on 01/16/2012

Insightful article on the architect of SB1070 and its copy cat laws. Know the man behind the law and know yourself.

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/kris-kobach-anti-immigration-hawk-cozies-mi

[CrestedSparrow]

05:29 PM on 01/16/2012

Ask CHILDREN to show proof of citizenship? Make no mistake that the intent of these laws is to intimidate, harrass, psychologically harm, disenfranchise, & create a climate of sanctioned racism & mob mentality towards 1 ethnic group. What I find most appalling in all this is the insidious method used to justify attacks on children. Why not just ask the parents when they enroll their children for the information u want so desparately? Becuz then u wouldn't have the opportunity to personally inflict the most damage and tell the child personally that they are different & held in contempt. U fool no one. Conservative Christians must be filled with pride to see the law reaching out to innocents: this is for Christians who support the law. Mathew 18: 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5“And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; 6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

[spytheweb]

02:34 PM on 01/20/2012

Children don't get a free pass. Their parents, like you, use them as pawns. When their parents snuck across the border they knew they were doing wrong.

If you are a US citizen, do you carry a passport when traveling outside of the country or do you just quote Bible verses about how people should be able to travel the world as god meant them?

People don't realize how much the cost is to teach illegal aliens and children of the illegal. Things are changing as states are running out of money, employment is high and it will never be like it was. Budgets get smaller and guess who's going to be cutout? Illegal aliens. Right now the federal government is about as nice as it's ever going to be. Things are going to go down hill fast and don't think it can't happen here and it'll be ugly.

[CrestedSparrow]

02:56 PM on 01/20/2012

You are a liar who has been proven a liar time and time again. You want to blame less than 4% of populatiom for 100% of the nation's economic woes, and continue to ignore the elephant in the room. 49% of White Americans on public assistance today; shall we eject them too for being a burden on your pocket book? The uber rich just wanted a segway to make this into full blow class warfare and people like you laid out the red carpet by attacking the undocumented when you should have been focusing on the real culprits in Washington all along. It is pure cowardice combined with ignorance and plain old racism being given a forum to spew their hatred which is now spilling over to Blacks. Who's next? You?

[frdafury]

12:19 AM on 01/15/2012

Let me try this again, I have never read such vile posts on the Huffington Post till now. No understanding of history, law, Government, economics, Justice or even human decency. Am I shocked at this retching of hate and lack of intelligence, oh yes. Am I surprised at how far some people will go to be simply mean? NO. But then what do I expect when most people have no understanding of what would take a person from their home and come to a foreign land and try to make a new life, if not for themselves but their children. They are so far removed from their own grand parents and great grand parents trials and tribulations that they think they are superior to everyone (except, perhaps the 1% and they toady to them). Remember that when you point one finger forward, 3 point back at yourselves.

[red skull]

12:53 AM on 01/15/2012

LOL, take your anxiety pill.

[frdafury]

01:34 AM on 01/15/2012

Just did, pay attention.

[rt1027]

12:35 PM on 01/15/2012

and yet my family had the respect for the laws of this nation.....enough respect that they came here legally

coming here legal what a concept

but thanks for playing

[frdafury]

03:45 PM on 01/15/2012

Isn't that nice for you, now show me the proof. I wouldn't take your word the sky is blue if this is how you respond. I want the paperwork and I want it now! And no, Thank you for being a player!

[lliberty4ever]

06:13 PM on 01/14/2012

"The CDC today reported an outbreak of common sense in Missouri "

[The Forgotten Man]

02:57 PM on 01/14/2012

"Mexico’s immigration policy is positively draconian when compared with the Arizona laws." (thedailycaller.com 5/21/2010) In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Mexican President Felipe Calderon's explains:

BLITZER: So if people want to come from Guatemala or Honduras or El Salvador or Nicaragua, they want to just come into Mexico, they can just walk in?
CALDERON: No. They need to fulfill a form. They need to establish their right name. We analyze if they have not a criminal precedent. And they coming into Mexico. Actually…
BLITZER: Do Mexican police go around asking for papers of people they suspect are illegal immigrants?
CALDERON: OF COURSE! Of course, in the border, we are asking the people, who are you?
And if they explain…
B: At the border, I understand when they come in.
C: Yes.
B: But once they’re in…
C: But not in — if — once they are inside the country, what the Mexican police do is, of course, enforce the law. But by any means, immigration is a crime anymore in Mexico.
B: Immigration is not a crime, you’re saying?
C: It’s not a crime.
B: So in other words, if somebody sneaks in from Nicaragua or some other country in Central America, through the southern border of Mexico, they wind up in Mexico, they can go get a job…
C: No, no.
B: They can work.
C: If somebody do that without permission, we send back — we send back them!

[pphhrogg]

05:47 PM on 01/16/2012

Don't like their laws? Don't go to Mexico. Simple.

[The Forgotten Man]

06:32 PM on 01/16/2012

pphhrogg, Not sure what your getting at? That was not even the issue or the debate! I was merely pointing out the hypocrisy that exists with immigration policies. I used Mexico as an example because Calderon had the audacity to make such statements, which He ACTUALLY said with a straight face, its laughable!
Personally, I don't travel to Mexico!! However, I do travel frequently to Central America and immigration policies are equally strict!!

[luapmi2]

06:51 AM on 01/14/2012

One can only hope this spreads.

[rt1027]

12:37 PM on 01/15/2012

agreed

[bccmeteorites]

05:08 AM on 01/14/2012

I think these politicians will be in for a real shocker on these costs. (This is what Minnesota found out). All you have to do is calculate the cost for each student and multiply that by the number of illegal immigrants. You have to attach a certain cost factor because the language barrier has a tendency to slow down education classroom dynamics until they can catch up. I have a family member who was on the local school board came up with the genius idea in the early 1990's of flooding the school district with massive bilingual education programs to help these students catch up. This was done to maintain higher performance ratings at the state level and to help the students.

I am ashamed to say you may now visit and write to many of her success stories at State prison facilities throughout the State of Texas. We have reached a bizarre point in Texas prisons where it is not impossible to find an illegal immigrant child ended up in prison, now 30 or 40 years old, and now their own teenage children are in juvenile detention (for gang member activity) or on their way to join their father or mother in adult prison.

These are some of the problems the government of Mexico is trying to avoid. They do not want either their legal or illegal immigrants back in Mexico. I'm totally serious about this.

Of course, they do want them to send money.

[aproudamvet]

01:14 PM on 01/14/2012

Thepolititions wouldn't be surprised,because they know exactly what is going on in America today. Why do you think Obama want immigration reform? Theirs is the only vote he can count on to get re-elected.

It's not just the education that is costing us Americans. Why do you think we get hasseled by bill collectors? Or why medical care prices go up? Or insurance rates go up. Look at the payday loan places.

Medical care prices rise, because the hospitals and doctor offices have to make up for what they can't collect from illegals, because they give false information. For example, they give wrong addresses and phone numbers so the medical facilities can't collect. We, the tax payers, have to pay more to cover the money that they lose from illegals and anyone else who do not pay. That is the same thing with insurance. The rates go up to cover the money the medical facilities can't collect. Again we get harrassed by bill collectors, because they can't locate the illegals who use their facilities inorder to get the monies owed. We have to cover their bills as well as our own.

[spytheweb]

02:40 PM on 01/20/2012

"Hispanics are less likely to vote than other groups, even if citizen. In the 2008 election, only 7.4% of voters were Hispanic."

"not all Hispanic voters support amnesty. Of Hispanic voters, 37% of Hispanics supported deporting illegal immigrants rather than fining them and than giving them a pathway to citizenship. So the pro-immigration Hispanics vote in 2008 was only 5.4% of the total vote."

http://super-economy.blogspot.com/2010/05/hispanic-voters-are-few-compared-to.html

[andreabeth7]

05:33 PM on 01/14/2012

"We have reached a bizarre point in Texas prisons where it is not impossible to find an illegal immigrant child ended up in prison, now 30 or 40 years old, and now their own teenage children are in juvenile detention (for gang member activity) or on their way to join their father or mother in adult prison. "

Now who says we do not support keeping families together.

[mericart]

06:54 PM on 01/13/2012

Many illegal immigrants were young children when they were brought to America. It's not their fault and they should not be punished for it. Moreover, every child deserves an education, and it would be cruelty to deprive them of it just because of immigration status. So what if they are "illegal"? Laws can and should be changed when they are unjust. Americans protest when Iran wants to execute an American for espionage. Even though it's their law, we protest because it's inhuman. The same standard should apply to immigration.

[Viper1st]

07:12 PM on 01/13/2012

No where, in either Alabama H.B. 56, nor in Missouri's proposed immigration reform legislation is there language denying education to foreign citizens residing in the USA ~ illegally

In fact, 1982 SCOTUS Plyler v. Doe ruling, mandates that the U.S. Taxpayer provide FREE K-12 education to ilegals ~ an annual cost of over $8 billion to the U.S. Taxpayer

The person(s) bringing into the USA foreign national children are in Federal Felony violation of U.S. Federal Immigration Laws on the books since November 6, 1986

U.S.C. 8 § 1324 : US Code - Section 1324: Bringing in and harboring certain aliens

(a) Criminal penalties
(1)(A) Any person who -
(i) knowing that a person is an alien, brings to or attempts to
bring to the United States in any manner whatsoever
(ii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien
has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in
violation of law, transports, or moves such alien within the United States
(iii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an
alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in
violation of law, conceals, harbors, or shields from detection,
or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection
(iv) encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or
reside in the United States, in violation of law
(II) aids or abets the commission of any of the preceding acts,

[RobietheCat]

11:51 PM on 01/13/2012

Ok, so let me get this right.

Let's say you own a house in a nice neighborhood, and one day an illegal decides he'll just move his family into your home without permission.

Maybe it takes a couple of years and much litigation to get him out.

Are you seriously suggesting, his children should continue to stay in YOUR HOME, just because they were brought there by the parents, and they should not be punished for the crime of criminal trespass?

Is that what you are suggesting?

[mericart]

06:30 PM on 01/14/2012

There is a major difference between your scenario and the reality. You don't own the country. If this were your private country, sure, you can kick people out. But America is not a private property. Being a citizen gives you rights and responsibilities, but it doesn't give you ownership. You don't get to decide who can come and go just because you feel like it.

[Maggie K]

04:02 PM on 01/16/2012

This is not an accurate comparison.

[Jo Hargis]

02:16 PM on 01/13/2012

Ah, I can't wait to see the economic backlash this has, much like Alabama's did for them. There's a lot to be said for learning by the example someone else set; but no, there are always stupid people who have to learn by experience.

[sajc05]

02:31 PM on 01/13/2012

When we do nothing, this happens

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/13/saul-chavez-preckwinkle-immigration-chicago_n_1202015.html?ref=latino-voices&ir=Latino%20Voices

[Maggie K]

04:05 PM on 01/16/2012

Did you miss the part about that being a justice system failure, not an immigration policy failure? The same scenario has happened in the town I grew up in with citizens repeatedly being DUI offenders. Your claim lacks any logic.

[BlairCase]

03:24 PM on 01/13/2012

Alabama's "unemployment rate fell 0.6 percent in November to 8.7 percent, according to new state reports, partly because the state’s employers opened up jobs to Americans after shedding illegal immigrants. The unemployment rate is far below October’s rate of 9.3 percent and September’s rate of 9.8 percent

http://dailycaller.com/2011/12/18/alabama-jobless-rate-falls-amid-immigration-reform/

[Irish georgia peach]

09:57 PM on 01/14/2012

As did our's when we passed new laws. We're not where we want to be but we are getting there. Fanned.Faved.

[teagle01]

01:24 PM on 01/13/2012

I cannot believe they would want to be in our school system. They must think if you just show up you get an education. Our kids dont.

[Viper1st]

01:36 PM on 01/13/2012

Because ~ its FREE?

1982 SCOTUS ruling, Plyler v. Doe ~ Mandating the U.S. Taxpayer provide FREE K-12 education to the World's foreign citizens living in the USA ~ illegally

Estimated 850,000 illegals in K-12 education, costing the U.S. Taxpayer over $8 billion, annually

[teagle01]

01:40 PM on 01/13/2012

but they will learn as much as our kids . Nothing. Most criminals break the law for somthing.But I guess they are safe while the folks work

[RobietheCat]

11:53 PM on 01/13/2012

Now they are demanding free college education.

Before you know it, they'll be demanding passing grades too, after all......

Grades are racist.

[aproudamvet]

11:47 AM on 01/14/2012

Everything is considered racist now days! I lived in AZ for 10 yrs. and a political official got pulled over because of equipment failures on the vehicle she was driving. The next day on the front page the paper, she was calling discrimination because she was hispanic. I guess they think, eventhough they are in the wrong, they expect to get away with anything and everything. The problem with her claim was it was pitch black outside,and you can't really see who is behind the wheel. It's been getting more rediculous erveryday. If it was me or anyone else, then can we yell discrimination, too? I want to be able to get away with things that do not conform to society.

[Elecktra001]

09:25 PM on 01/14/2012

Its called Social Promotion.

[teagle01]

12:05 PM on 01/13/2012

ever notice the states that go with this bunk are the ones no one wants to live in .unless they are stuck there. Let me think. If I could live anywhere in the US would I choose a state where dog mills and meth are the big export?

[bccmeteorites]

05:11 AM on 01/14/2012

You can thank Mexico for that.

[lliberty4ever]

06:18 PM on 01/14/2012

And what wonderland do you live in ?

[inthedesert]

12:01 PM on 01/13/2012

In 2004 alone, illegals cost California $1.4 BILLION in healthcare costs. I am sure that the figure is much higher now as there are more illegals in Cali now. And this from an article in USAToday from 2008: "At the state and local level, illegal immigrants already cost more in public services such as education and healthcare than they pay in taxes the Congressional Budget Office reported recently".

[teagle01]

01:14 PM on 01/13/2012

BS the ones I know work, have taxes withheld.The employer either keeps the difference or pays less. Fact is they pay their way. Your a fool if you will follow this BS before knowing what your yacking about

[Viper1st]

01:30 PM on 01/13/2012

Toll-Free ICE # 1.866.347.2423

To report ~ both illegals, unauthorized to work in the USA, & Unscrupulous U.S. Employers hiring illegals ~ a Federal Felony.

U.S.C. 8 § 1324a : US Code - Section 1324A: Unlawful employment of aliens

(a) Making employment of unauthorized aliens unlawful
(1) In general
It is unlawful for a person or other entity -
(A) to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, for employment
in the United States an alien knowing the alien is an
unauthorized alien (as defined in subsection (h)(3) of this
section) with respect to such employment, or
(B)(i) to hire for employment in the United States an
individual without complying with the requirements of
subsection (b) of this section or (ii) if the person or entity
is an agricultural association, agricultural employer, or farm
labor contractor (as defined in section 1802 of title 29), to
hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, for employment in the
United States an individual without complying with the
requirements of subsection (b) of this section.
(2) Continuing employment
It is unlawful for a person or other entity, after hiring an
alien for employment in accordance with paragraph (1), to
continue to employ the alien in the United States knowing the
alien is (or has become) an unauthorized alien with respect to
such employment.

[andreabeth7]

04:54 PM on 01/13/2012

They pay their way, huh?

This is an excerpt from a letter written by the President of the American Hospital Association.

"“Hospital­s shoulder a disproport­ionate burden in providing EMTALA-man­dated emergency services to undocument­ed immigrants­,” Umbdenstoc­k said in his letter. “And, in those communitie­s where the number of undocument­ed immigrants is greatest, the strain has reached the breaking point. In response, many hospitals have had to curtail services, delay implementi­ng services, or close beds,” he continued. “The most recent statistics shows that America's hospitals provided nearly $40 billion in uncompensa­ted care in 2009.”

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20110608/NEWS/306089969

$40 BILLION in unreimbursed hospital bills and that is for ONE year.”

[lliberty4ever]

06:19 PM on 01/14/2012

Don't forget the mentally challenged like you !