Immigration, border security make big splash on legislative docket

Immigration reform and border security are inseparable issues, said Veronica "Ronnye" Vargas Stidvent, an Austin lawyer and former special assistant to President Bush, at a public hearing Wednesday.

Participants discussed abroad range of immigration issues during a hearing hosted by the House Committee on State Affairs and the House Committee on Border & International Affairs Wednesday. Testimony provided by 38 expert witnesses addressed the subjects of the federal government's role in immigration policy, birthright citizenship and immigrant labor, among other issues. Testimony was by invitation only.

"We haven't stopped playing political football with the issue," said Rep. Juan Escobar, D-Kingsville.

At least 68 immigration bills have been filed in this session, said Kathleen Walker, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. One bill, House Bill 28, would nullify the right of citizenship automatically given to children born to illegal immigrants in the United States. Another bill, HB 13, would appropriate money to border security personnel.

The state should not be involved with immigration laws, Escobar said. Instead, Texas needs to put pressure on the federal government to create new laws and to send in more border agents, because more man power will take care of the problem, he said.

James Ho, an attorney who works in constitutional law, said that HB 28 was an "indirect attack on birthright citizenship." The bill is destined to be invalidated in federal courts because of the 14th Amendment, he said. The amendment guarantees citizenship to all persons born in the country.

Immigration provides 6 percent of our workforce and is a vital part of the United States' economy, said Ray Perryman, founder and president of the Perryman Group, an economic and financial analysis firm. Tighter immigration restrictions would socially and economically cost the United States, he said.

"Today's hearing emphasized the frustration Texans have with our broken immigration system," Vargas Stidvent said. "Clearly, we must have comprehensive immigration reform that addresses both border security and a legal and orderly way for foreigners to work in this country."

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