IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Rep. Brenda Landwehr
316/821-9800

REP. LANDWEHR TO INTRODUCE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM LEGISLATION

Wichita – Representative Brenda Landwehr (R-Wichita) announced today she will be introducing Illegal Immigration Reform Legislation during the 2008 Legislative Session.

“It has become apparent the federal government is not capable of adequately addressing this very serious problem facing our country and it is costing our state dearly,” Rep. Landwehr said.   “I am a strong supporter and advocate of legal immigrants who choose to make Kansas their new home.  I welcome them with open arms. They have come to this country through proper means and have followed our country and state’s laws to do so.  However, Kansas cannot continue to be a safe harbor for illegal immigrants.”

As Chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee, Rep. Landwehr said she has heard from schools and hospitals about the financial toll illegal aliens have on their bottom-line.

“It is difficult to discern the exact cost illegal immigration has on our education, social services, and health care systems in Kansas.  However, with an estimated 70,000 illegal immigrants living in our state, we can easily put that number in the millions of dollars,” Landwehr said.  “With so many other tremendous expenses looming before us, we cannot continue to foot the bill for illegal immigrants.”

Rep. Landwehr’s proposed Illegal Immigration Reform Legislation will include:

• Revoke the business license of and impose civil penalties on any business found to have knowingly employed an illegal alien or failing to comply with federal law regarding verifying an employee’s legal citizenship/work status.
• Enforce federal law that denies public benefits to illegal aliens.  Possible penalties for state employees who knowingly allow illegal aliens to apply and or receive public benefits from the state.
• Strengthen prosecution and law enforcement efforts.
• Prohibit local governmental entities from “opting out” of state illegal immigration reform, so called “Sanctuary Cities”.
• Impose civil and criminal penalties on any illegal alien who registers to vote and/or votes in an election and on those who knowingly register an illegal alien to vote.
  

Other legislation possibilities:

• Rescind instate tuition for illegal aliens.  U.S. citizens from out of state must pay out-of-state tuition.
• Enhance the penalties of Dealing in False ID Documentation (KSA 21-3830): For repeat offenders and for offenders who are dealing in large quantities of false identification documents or are manufacturing false identification documents. 
• Create a new “harboring” civil penalty: Applies to landlords who knowingly rent to illegal aliens.  Penalties for violations could include the loss of business license/rental license and a provision that the landlord can not collect rent on any unit in the facility where the illegal aliens were found to be living for a period of one month.
• Create a private cause of action for an unlawful business practice that may be brought by a former employee who lost his/her job because the former employer knowingly hired illegal aliens to perform the work previously performed by the terminated employee.
  

“Oklahoma and Colorado already have enacted legislation that discourages illegal immigrants from living within their borders.  Missouri is working on similar legislation,” Landwehr said.  “Kansas must take action.  If we don’t, not only will we see a tremendous increase in the number of illegal immigrants here, but as Kansas taxpayers, our taxes will go up dramatically to pay for the escalating financial burden on our schools, social services and hospitals.

Rep. Landwehr represents 91^st District located in Northwest Wichita.