Missouri Governor Signs Tough Immigration Bill
On July 7, 2008, Governor Blunt announced that he signed new
legislation intended to address illegal immigration in Missouri, and
is set to take effect in August 2008. This legislation follows on
the heels on his directives to fight undocumented immigration by
barring the state from issuing Missouri driver licenses to
undocumented immigrants and imposing criminal penalties for those
who assist undocumented immigrants in obtaining driver licenses.
The new law calls for fines reaching $5,000 for employers who
incorrectly classify workers as independent contractors to avoid
paying taxes and have five or more employees performing public
works. The new legislation also prohibits the creation of sanctuary
cities in the state; requires verification of legal employment
status of every public employee; allows for cancellation of state
contracts for contractors if they hire undocumented workers;
requires public agencies to verify the legal status of applicants
before providing welfare benefits; and criminalizes the
transportation of undocumented immigrants for exploitive purposes.
Additionally, the legislation requires citizenship checks on every
individual presented for imprisonment.
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