Senator Palmer would like for you to view this bill:

Senate Bill 458


Senator Palmer to Introduce Bill to fight "illegal Immigration" in 2008 Kansas Legislative Session.

For Immediate Release
January 3, 2008


Senator Peggy Palmer (R-Augusta) is introducing legislation entitled the
"Kansas Illegal Immigration Relief Act" during the 2008 Legislative Session. The legislation was drafted with the assistance of Law Professor Kris Kobach, a nationally-recognized expert in immigration law and an attorney defending the state of Arizona, the city of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and the city of Valley Park, Missouri, in litigation concerning the authority of states and cities to enact laws discouraging illegal immigration.

The purpose of the bill is to provide the State of Kansas with an effective
solution to the problems that result from the employment of illegal aliens,
the consumption of public benefits by illegal aliens, and the lack of
cooperation and coordination between local law enforcement agencies and the U.S.
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The adoption of this bill will
benefit the citizens of Kansas through the promotion of fair and equitable
employment practices and through strengthening the enforcement of existing
immigration statutes.

According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, the current estimated illegal alien population in Kansas ranges from 70,000 to 90,000 individuals. The costs for education, emergency medical care and incarceration of illegal aliens translates into an estimated $235 million additional tax burden for the citizens of Kansas. The existing gaps in Kansas law create attractions and incentives for illegal aliens to come to Kansas. The failure to address these important issues at the federal level creates
critical shortcomings and difficulties in enforcement at the county and state
government levels.

Sen. Palmer emphasizes, "Many states, and most of our neighboring states,
have passed tough illegal immigration laws; the time is now for the Kansas
Legislature to honor their sworn oath of office to uphold the Constitution an the
laws of Kansas. The "Kansas Illegal Immigration Relief Act" will ensure that the benefits, rights and tax dollars of legal Kansas citizens are protected.

The focus of the new legislation includes the following five initiatives:
Prohibits public and private employment of illegal aliens, mandates employer
registration and use of the E-verify System for new employees, makes employment
identify fraud a crime, terminates public assistance benefits to aliens not
lawfully present in the Unites States, facilitates state and local police
assisting the federal government in the enforcement of the federal immigration laws through verification of the immigration status of arrested individuals and verification of the immigration status of incarcerated individuals, and strengthens driver's license security by making the expiration date the same as the visa expiration date in cases of aliens possessing nonimmigrant visas.

Senator Palmer states, "The uncontrolled influx of illegal aliens must be halted. National Security begins at home, and this legislation will protect Kansas against the foreign invasion that undermines our national security and drains the resources of
legal aliens and U.S. citizens. The citizens are demanding that we do our constitutional duty to protect them from this illegal invasion. The immigrants who have come
into our country and state legally deserve respect, but those who break our laws must not be rewarded with taxpayer-subsidized benefits."

Talking Points:

Introduced by Senator Peggy Palmer and Co-Sponsored by
Senators Barnett, Huelskamp, Journey and Ostmeyer


SB 458 - The Kansas Illegal Immigration Relief Act will provide effective solutions for the problems that result from the:


• Employment of illegal aliens

Requires pubic and private employers to use The E-verify program for new employees and imposes penalties for business that knowingly hire illegal aliens.

• Consumption of public benefits by illegal aliens

Prohibits illegal aliens from receiving state services and benefits. Governor Sebelius in
the Executive Order No. 06-371 August, 24, 200 clearly set forth this important public
policy objective.  This will establish a unified and easily understandable process for Verification of lawful presence by those seeking public benefits.

• Lack of cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and the US Bureau of immigrations and Customs Enforcement

Encourages and allows all state and local authorities to enforce federal immigration laws.  Further, law enforcement agencies shall inquire into citizenship and immigration status of an arrested person.

• Lack of Employment identity fraud laws.

Creates a new crime of employment identity fraud. The penalty is severity level 8, non
person felony

• Lack of laws regarding identity thief in Kansas’ Driver’s License Laws

Requires the division of motor vehicles to require a person applying who provides proof they are a citizen of the United States sign and affidavit stating they are a citizen of the United States and falsely swearing is a federal crime.
Requires that no driver’s license or identification care be issued to any alien until the
alien has been verified by the United States department of home land security to
be lawfully present in the United States.