Immigrant bill draws Ricketts' ire

Dale Dueland, Gene Weedin and Duane Tappe, from left, talk state politics with District 44 Sen. Dan Hughes during the weekly legislative conference call at the Keystone Business Center this morning. (Bruce Baker/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- Illegal immigrants may soon be able to avoid work visa requirements placed on legal immigrants in Nebraska, if a bill advancing at the state level is passed.

The bill, LB 947, was placed on select file Tuesday and drew the ire of Governor Pete Ricketts a day later.

"If LB 947 passes, Nebraska will be rewarding illegal immigration and preferencing those who are here illegally over those who use our legal immigration system. This sends the message that immigrants need not respect our laws," said Gov. Ricketts in his weekly column.

Nebraska statute currently requires verification as a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act. The bill would amend state statute for the purpose of obtaining a professional or commercial license to include documentation from a federal agency of a persons lawful status.

The proposed change stems from temporary lawful status granted by the Obama administration, according to Gov. Ricketts. "It is important to understand that President Obama unilaterally granted this status through executive order and it is only temporary. As your Governor, I have consistently opposed expanding public or taxpayer benefits to these individuals who came illegally because it undermines the rule of law," he said.

Gov. Ricketts equates the bill to rewarding illegal immigration and sending the message immigrants need not respect our laws. He said Nebraska has a multitude of international students studying at our universities and state colleges on legal student visas who must get a work visa if they want to get a professional Nebraska license.

"This bill would allow people who came here illegally to circumvent the legal system used by law-abiding immigrants coming to our state today," said Ricketts.

The legislation is one of several benefits either granted or proposed for illegal immigrants in recents years despite concerns raised by Nebraskans, says Ricketts. He pointed at in-state tuition granted to illegal immigrants by a previous legislature and last year's legislature overriding his veto of legislation which now gives illegal immigrants access to driver's licenses in Nebraska.

"Nebraska should not continue down this path," said Ricketts, adding Nebraska would continue to feel the impact of the federal government's failures until the federal immigration system was fixed. "Giving benefits to individuals who came here illegally is not a solution for the schools, communities, and churches in our state that are on the front lines of dealing with the fallout of the federal government's failure to enforce immigration laws."

Gov. Ricketts encouraged residents who agreed with him to contact their respective state senators.

District 44 State Sen. Dan Hughes indicated this morning he was leaning in support of the bill but said he did have more research to do on the topic.

During his weekly legislative conference call with the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, Sen. Hughes acknowledged the Governor's disapproval for the legislation but said he equated it to cutting off the nose to spite the face. Sen. Hughes referred to illegal immigrants in Nebraska who now have access to education but don't have access to employment opportunities.

Sen. Hughes said opponents to the legislation argued it was a non-issue and only three applicants had been denied professional certification, however, he believed there were more out there that simply didn't apply because they knew they would be denied.

"At this point I'm leaning in favor, but I need to do a little more homework," he said.