Republican lawmakers in various states are proposing legislation that would assist President-elect Donald Trump in carrying out his campaign promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Measures include empowering local law enforcement to arrest individuals who are in the country illegally, notifying ICE when such individuals are taken into custody, and creating state crimes punishable by fines and deportation.
Support for deportation among the public has grown, with over 40% of voters in favor of deporting most immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. Republican-led states like Texas, Iowa, Louisiana, and Oklahoma have passed laws allowing law enforcement to arrest undocumented immigrants, with Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma announcing plans to deport over 500 immigrants in state prisons who are not legal citizens.
Some Democratic governors, such as Laura Kelly of Kansas and Tony Evers of Wisconsin, are pushing back against these proposals, advocating for a more comprehensive and rational approach to immigration. Immigrant advocacy groups have raised concerns about the impact of these laws, citing potential chaos and division.
Overall, the debate over immigration enforcement is intensifying in state legislatures across the country, with Republicans looking to align with Trump’s immigration policies while Democrats seek to resist and protect vulnerable populations. The outcome of this clash remains uncertain, but it is clear that immigration will continue to be a contentious issue at the state level in the coming legislative sessions.
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