• Home
  • About Us
    • Stacy E. Cozart Martin
    • Michael M. Jolic
    • Scott Bratton
    • Staff
  • Services
    • Non-Immigrant Visas
      • E-1/E-2 Visas
      • H-1B Visas
      • H-1B visas for Physicians
      • H-2B Visas
      • J-1 Visa Waivers
      • L-1A and L-1B Non-immigrant Visas
      • O-1 Visa
      • The TN for Professionals
    • Immigrant Visas
      • EB-11 Alien of Extraordinary Ability
      • EB-12 Outstanding Professors or Researchers
      • Multi-National Executive or Manager Category
      • Immigrant Investors/Employment Creation Visas
      • Immigration Issues for Physicians
      • National Interest Waivers (NIW)
      • National Interest Waiver for Physicians Working in Medically Underserved Areas
      • Permanent Residency based on Labor Certification (PERM)
      • I-9 Services
    • Asylum, Deportation, Removal and Crimmigration
      • Asylum
      • Removal Proceedings
      • Crimmigration
      • Bond
      • Appeals – Board of Immigration Appeals
      • Federal Appeals
      • Federal Litigation in District Courts
      • I-601A/I-212
      • Motion to Reopen
  • Consultation
  • News
  • Contact

Mobile Menu

Schedule A Consultation Now!

Give us a call to speak with an immigration attorney.

(216) 328-9878

  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

Speak with an Immigration Attorney  (216) 328-9878

MJB Immigration

Immigration Attorneys

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Non-Immigrant Visas
      • E-1/E-2 Visas
      • H-1B Visas
      • H-1B Visas for Physicians
      • H-2B Visas
      • J-1 Visa Waivers
      • L-1A and L-1B Visas
      • O-1 Visas
      • The TN for Professionals
    • Immigrant Visas
      • EB-11 Visas
      • EB-12 Visas
      • Multi-National Executive or Manager Category
      • Immigrant Investors/Employment Creation Visas
      • Immigration Issues for Physicians
      • National Interest Waivers (NIW)
      • National Interest Waiver for Physicians Working in Medically Underserved Areas
      • Permanent Residency based on Labor Certification (PERM)
      • I-9 Services
    • Asylum, Deportation, Removal and Crimmigration
      • Asylum
      • Removal Proceedings
      • Crimmigration
      • Bond
      • Appeals – Board of Immigration Appeals
      • Federal Appeals
      • Federal Litigation in District Courts
      • I-601A/I-212
      • Motion to Reopen
  • Consultation
  • News
  • Contact

Article: With Congress Gridlocked on Immigration, State Lawmakers Step in to Support Their Residents By Tory Johnson

May 1, 2020

<div itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/Article”>
<h3 itemprop=”name”>
<!–ARTICLE TITLE START–>
With Congress Gridlocked on Immigration, State Lawmakers Step in to Support Their Residents
<!–END ARTICLE TITLE–>
</h3><h4><i>by <a href=”https://discuss.ilw.com/articles/articles/393858-article-with-congress-gridlocked-on-immigration-state-lawmakers-step-in-to-support-their-residents-by-tory-johnson#bio”>
<span itemprop=”author” itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/Person”>
<span itemprop=”name”>
<!–AUTHOR NAME START–>
Tory Johnson
<!–END AUTHOR NAME–>
</span></span>
</a></i></h4><br/>
<div class=”post-content entry-content”>
<div class=”at-above-post addthis_tool” data-url=”https://immigrationimpact.com/2020/04/29/immigration-laws-passed-in-2019/”></div><p>In recent years, states have increasingly embraced their role in immigration by exploring and enacting policies and positions to address the needs of their communities. States are doing what they can, given that Congress has been unable to pass meaningful policies to update the immigration system for decades.</p>
<p>2019 was no exception to this trend. This will likely continue all throughout 2020, as states find ways to support their residents—particularly <a href=”https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-15/gavin-newsom-california-coronavirus-help-unemployment-independent-contractors-immigrants” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>those left out of federal coronavirus relief initiatives</a>.</p>
<p>State legislatures passed more than 300 <a href=”https://www.ncsl.org/research/immigration/report-on-state-immigration-laws-2019.aspx” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>immigration-related laws and resolutions</a> in 2019, according to a new report by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). More laws were passed, but fewer resolutions, <a href=”https://immigrationimpact.com/2018/11/27/states-immigration-in-2018/#.Xqmk7UBFzSF” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>compared to 2018</a>.</p>
<p>According to NCSL, 47 states and territories enacted 181 laws and 135 resolutions related to immigration in 2019. Lawmakers passed over a dozen other bills that were vetoed by governors.</p>
<p>The bills enacted in 2019 cover various topics, from education to health to community trust. The greatest share were budgetary laws, which has been the case in previous years. Budget-related legislation typically authorizes state spending for programs and services involving education, integration, health, and/or law enforcement.</p>
<p>While topics varied, some trends emerged among state-level laws and resolutions. For example, several states passed legislation to address the 2020 census and immigrant residents. Most of these initiatives sought an <a href=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/03/12/counting-everyone-citizens-non-citizens-2020-census-is-crucial/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>accurate count</a> of residents. Passing these laws was vital to ensure that immigrants would be included, as <a href=”https://immigrationimpact.com/2019/06/28/supreme-court-rules-citizenship-question-census/#.XqnsQkBFzSF” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>fears around completing the census</a> have grown in immigrant communities.</p>
<p>Another trend involves professional or occupational licensing and credentialing. Many states face labor shortages in certain industries as workers reach retirement. To offset the loss, lawmakers in some states enacted legislation to make it easier for all residents to access, understand, and utilize the licensing and credentialing processes.</p>
<p>As in past years, states examined their role in federal immigration enforcement. Nearly a fifth of laws passed—35 laws in 14 states and the District of Columbia—pertained generally to enforcement. The laws addressed requirements for communicating with federal law enforcement agencies or assisting in their immigration enforcement. On the whole, most of the laws passed limit or establish clear criteria for when state law enforcement share information about a person’s immigration or citizenship status.</p>
<p>Examples of the types of legislation passed at the state level in 2019 include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Colorado and Massachusetts enacted laws to fund 2020 census outreach programs to communities and populations—including immigrants—that prior censuses historically undercounted.</li>
<li>Laws passed in California, Illinois, and Nevada prohibited occupational or professional licenses to be denied based solely on an applicant’s immigration status.</li>
<li>Minnesota provided a one-time grant to the Construction Careers Foundation. This initiative will provide year-round learning opportunities for people under 21 to support pathways to construction-industry careers, especially for groups underrepresented in the industry or economically disadvantaged.</li>
<li>Laws enacted in Colorado, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia placed limits on civil <a href=”https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/immigration-detainers-overview” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>immigration detainers</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>State-level legislators also responded to, or called for, federal actions on immigration throughout the year. Among the 131 resolutions passed, 22 of them called for congressional or administrative action on immigration.</p>
<p>It is clear a wide range of immigration issues remain important to states and communities. As this year’s group of policymakers examine and weigh new proposals, it will be more important than ever to ensure state-level actions are designed to support and lift up all residents.</p>
<!– AddThis Advanced Settings above via filter on the_content –><!– AddThis Advanced Settings below via filter on the_content –><!– AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content –><!– AddThis Share Buttons above via filter on the_content –><!– AddThis Share Buttons below via filter on the_content –><div class=”at-below-post addthis_tool” data-url=”https://immigrationimpact.com/2020/04/29/immigration-laws-passed-in-2019/”></div><!– AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content –><!– AddThis Related Posts below via filter on the_content –><div class=”at-below-post-recommended addthis_tool”></div><!– AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on the_content –> <p>

</p>
FILED UNDER: <a href=”https://immigrationimpact.com/tag/ncsl/” rel=”tag”>NCSL</a><br> </div>

<p>This post originally appeared on <a href=”https://immigrationimpact.com/2020/04/29/immigration-laws-passed-in-2019/#.Xqw3yqhKhPY” target=”_blank”>Immigration Impact</a>. Reprinted with permission.</p>
</span>
<hr/><h4>

<a name=”bio”></a>
About The Author<br/>
</h4>

<!–AUTHOR BIO START–>

<p>
<b>Tory Johnson</b> is an author of Immigration Impact.
</p>
<!–END AUTHOR BIO–>

<p><hr/>
<div class=”ilwFinePrint”>The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of <span itemprop=”publisher” itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/Organization”>
<span itemprop=”name”>ILW.COM</span></span>.</div></p>
</div>
{$inline_image

Filed Under: Uncategorised

You May Also Be Interested In:

Legal Alert Title

May 11 – Permanent Residency, House Bill

Article: Obtaining I-551 Stamp as Evidence of Conditional Lawful Permanent Residency during COVID-19 By Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP

Article: Stuck Abroad And Unable To Return To The U.S. Within 180 Days? By David H. Nachman, Esq., Michael Phulwani, Esq. and Ludka Zimovcak, Esq.

May 8 – Travel Restrictions, COVID-19

May 7 – Top Articles And News For April 2020

Article: Recommendations for U.S.C.I.S. Reopening Offices during Covid-19 By Alan Lee, Esq.

Article: COVID-19 Exacerbates Form I-829 Processing Pain for EB-5 Investors, Mandamus Lawsuits Growing in Popularity By Matt Galati

May 6 – Healthcare Immigration Now

Previous Post: « April 30 – COVID-19 Pandemic, Immigration
Next Post: May 1 – Healthcare Workforce, Immigration »

Primary Sidebar

Have a Quick Question?

Send us a message and one of our immigration attorneys will respond to you within 24 hours.

Footer

Martin Jolic and Bratton LLC (formerly known as Sharon & Kálnoki LLC) is a full service Cleveland-based immigration law practice. We offer representation for almost all immigrant and nonimmigrant processes to clients worldwide.

Phone: (216) 328-9878
Fax: (216) 328-9879
Email: info@mjbimmigration.com

6050 Oak Tree Blvd., Suite 250
Independence, Ohio 44131

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Consultation
  • News
  • Contact

Site Footer

Attorney advertising. This website is informational only. Information provided herein does not address any specific set of individual facts. Each immigration case is unique and nothing on this or associated pages, documents, forms, comments, e-mails, articles or other communication constitutes legal advice for any individual case or situation. Information provided on this site is not intended as a substitute for legal advice directed to a particular set of circumstances. Legal advice on specific, individual cases should be obtained from an experienced immigration attorney. In exchange for using this site to gather information, you agree not to hold any person involved in the preparation and presentation of this site responsible or liable, either directly or indirectly, for any damages whatsoever that may arise from the use, misuse, and/or reliance on anything contained within this site. Viewing or using information presented on this website is not privileged and does not create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship will be created only upon the express agreement of the parties.

Copyright © 2021