Members of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus announced on Thursday the formation of a coalition that includes a number of Mexican-American and business groups to combat what they say is an onslaught of anti-immigrant legislation filed this session.
In addition to the caucus, the alliance includes the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Association of Mexican-American Chambers of Commerce, the Texas Employers for Immigration Reform, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union. Members of the alliance told the media their mission is to keep immigration legislation out of the state and to encourage the federal government to implement fair reform.
"It seems that everyday there's a new bill that's filed in the Texas Legislature that focuses exclusively on immigrants," said Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas. "We want to focus on issues that are within our purview and defer to Washington [on issues within] their jurisdiction."
The group specified a number of immigration bills they called for the Legislature to defeat. Two by Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, that would prohibit children of illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits such as health care, welfare benefits and public education. Another bill the coalition opposes, authored by Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, would prohibit cities from operating day-labor facilities. Currently, Austin has one such facility and is in the midst of creating another.
An immigration platform promoted and distributed by the caucus and the business association outlined a number of proposals for immigration reform. It calls for legal avenues for immigration to the United States, giving those already immigrated opportunity to become legal, the elimination of immigrant quotas, a guest worker program and national security policies to guard against threats of terrorism.
Another point in the platform, endorsed by Texas Association of Business President Bill Hammond, calls for allowance of immigrants to meet "actual labor demand" of Texas businesses.
"Unless we allow enough legal immigration to meet the needs of the employers, our borders will never be secure," Hammond said.
Earlier in the month, Gov. Rick Perry also called for the U.S. Congress to implement a federal guest-worker program, although he endorsed consequences for businesses employing illegal immigrants.
"Those who hire illegal aliens should face tough penalties," Perry said.
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