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List of state immigration policies

The legislation listed is intended to give prominent examples of laws considered in each state; it may not be all-inclusive. Advocacy groups are intended to be a starting point for getting involved in state-level advocacy; the Washington Office does not necessarily endorse all actions or statements made by these groups.

If you have information to add to this list, please contact the Washington Office. 

Alabama (back to top of page)

Passed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: AL Coalition for Immigrant Justice, AL-MS Network for Peace and Justice, The Quest

Faith-based letters: Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaUnited Methodist Church

Videos: Not in My America | www.IsThisAlabama.org | www.EsEstaAlabama.org

Take action: Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice

News:  AL law to get rewrite, not repeal  |  County judge declares contract provision unconstitutional in some casesGrim Reality of Life Under Alabama's Immigration LawFederal Appeals Court Blocks Parts of Alabama Immigration Law | Fearful Hispanic Students Skip ClassAlabama Immigration Law: Key Parts Remain, Churches Lose FightJudge upholds most of law | Dept. of Justice Challenges AL Immigration Law | Churches speak out against new AL immigration law

Alaska (back to top of page)

Proposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: AK Immigrant Rights Coalition (AK Immigration Justice Project)

Arizona (back to top of page)

Status of SB 1070

Other anti-immigrant legislation passed this season:

SB 1406: Allows for an agreement on border fence construction with neighboring states.
SB 1465: Prohibits the use of an identification card issued by the Mexican consulate as a valid form of ID
HB 2102: Requires a government-issued ID to obtain a fingerprint card, requires proof of legal status and a photo ID to work in the services industry.

AZ and Supreme Court information sheet

Arizona Accord (Feb 2012)

Advocates: Arizona Interfaith Network, Arizona Coalition on Migrants Rights

News: Anti-immigrant immigrantion bills return in AZ Senate  |  Business and civic leaders sign Arizona Accord

Arkansas (back to top of page)

Proposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: AR Friendship Coalition, Catholic Charities - Little Rock

California (back to top of page)

Passed Pro-Immigrant Legislation - CA Dream Act Part 1-Private FundingCA Dream Act Part 2-Public Funding

Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of LA, CA Immigrant Policy Center, Southern CA Immigration Coalition

News:  Congressional Democrats ask Brown to Suspend CA's Participation in Secure Communities

Colorado (back to top of page)

2012:  Senate OKs Immigrant Tuition Bill

2011 Failed Pro-Immigrant Legislation | 2011 Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: CO Council of Churches, CO Immigrant Rights Coalition

Connecticut (back to top of page)

Passed Pro-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: CT Immigration and Refugee Coalition, United Action CT, ACLU Immigrants' Rights CT

News:  Yale files lawsuit to stop immigration detainers

D.C. (back to the top of the page)

Reaffirmed pro-immigration policy

Delaware (back to top of page)

Proposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | Summary

Advocates: ACLU Immigrants' Rights DE

Florida (back to top)

Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | Interview with FL governor

Failed Pro-Immigrant Legislation  |  Miami Herald article

Florida Compact

Advocates: FL Council of Churches, Gainesville Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice, FL Immigrant CoalitionPalm Beach Immigrant Coalition, FL Immigrant Advocacy Center

Georgia (back to top of page)

2011: Passed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | bill text | parts of law blocked by judge

Advocates: We Are Georgia, GA Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, GA Prison Watch

News: DOJ reviews Georgia's tough immigration law  |  Small businesses and churches protest GA immigration law  |  Democrats move to repeal GA immigration law

Idaho (back to top of page)

Legislation Passed Jan-Jun 2011: Summary of H 230  I  Summary of H 310

News: No Arizona-style immigration reform bill for Idaho this year

Illinois (back to top of page)

Passed Pro-Immigrant LegislationProposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: IL Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Midwest Coalition for Human Rights, Immigrant Youth Justice League

News: IL Governor Terminates Secure Communities Agreement, DHS Overrides Decision

Indiana (back to top of page)

Summary of SB 590, Text of SB 590 | Portions of law blocked by judge

Advocates: No to SB 590, ACLU Immigrants' Rights IN

Indiana Compact

News: Mennonites help influence alteration of IN immigration bill, MCUSA statement in response to IN senate bill 590

Iowa (back to top of page)

Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: MCC Central Plains, Friends of the Immigrant

Kansas (back to top of page)

2011 Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: Immigrant Justice Advocacy Movement, ACLU Immigrants' Rights KS  

News:  Facing labor shortages, businesses urge aid for undocumented workers | KS seeks waiver for undocumented workers to solve farm crisis  |  KS agriculture secretary seeks federal waiver for illegal immigrants

Kentucky (back to top of page)

Proposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | bill text

Advocates: KY Council of Churches, KY Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

Louisiana (back to top of page)

Passed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: LA Conference of Catholic Bishops, New Orleans Workers' Center for Racial Justice

Maine (back to top of page)

Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Maine Compact

Advocates: ME Council of Churches, Immigration Legal Advocacy Project ME, ME Civil Liberties Union, ME People's Alliance

Maryland (back to top of page)

Passed Pro-Immigrant legislation | Law suspended, support needed for vote

Advocates: Casa de Maryland

Massachusetts (back to top of page)

Existing Anti-Immigrant Legislation | Update

Advocates: MA Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, Western MA Immigrant and Worker Rights Coalition, ACLU Immigrants' Rights MA, MA Council of Churches (newsletter)

News: MA resisting federal Secure Communities program

Michigan (back to top of page)

Proposed Anti-Immigrant Enforcement Legislation | Proposed E-verify legislation

Advocates: Michigan Organizing ProjectOne Michigan, ACLU Immigrants' Rights MI

News: U.S. immigration officials raid Detroit box company

Minnesota (back to top of page)

Proposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: MN Council of Churches, MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee, The Advocates for Human Rights, MN Immigrant Freedom Network

News: Minnesota declining Secure Communities, adding e-Verify

Mississippi (back to top of page)

2012 Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

2011 Passed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | bill text

Faith-based letter

Advocates: MS Immigrant Rights Alliance (MIRA), AL-MS Peace and Justice Network, ACLU Immigrants' Rights MS

Missouri (back to top of page)

Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | Existing anti-immigrant legislation

Advocates: MO Immigrant and Refugee Advocates (MIRA)

Montana (back to top of page)

Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: Montana Human Rights Network, Alliance for a Just Society (Immigration work in MT)

Nebraska (back to top of page)

Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: First Mennonite Church, Equality Nebraska Coalition, Nebraska Appleseed

News: Action on immigration legislation unlikely 

New Hampshire (back to top of page)

2011: Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | bill text

Advocates: NH Council of Churches, NH Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees, Granite State Organizing Project

News: NH committee recommends killing new anti-immigrant bill (Feb 2012)

New Jersey (back to top of page)

Proposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | Failed Pro-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: Wind of the Spirit, NJ May First Coalition, American Friends Service Committee, Casa Freehold, ACLU Immigrants' Rights NJ

New Mexico (back to top of page)

Anti-Immigrant Executive Order | Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: NM Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Somos un Pueblo Unido, NM Conference of Catholic Bishops

News:  NM Driver's license bill is dead again

New York (back to top of page)

Proposed Pro-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: NY State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform, NY State Youth Leadership Council, NY Immigration Coalition, NY United for Immigrant Rights, NY Civil Liberties Union

News: NY Quits Secure Communities Immigration Enforcement Program | NY State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform Statement

North Carolina (back to top of page)

Passed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: NC Religious Coalition for Justice for Immigrants, NC Council of Churches, NC Justice Center, ACLU Immigrants' Rights NC

Ohio (back to top of page)

Proposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, HOLA Today, Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice, ACLU Immigrants' Rights OH

Oklahoma (back to top of page)

Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | bill text

Oklahoma Compact

Advocates: Oklahoma Conference of Churches, Central Oklahoma Human Rights Alliance (no website available), Immigration in the Heartland

News: Immigration debate returns to Oklahoma Capitol

Oregon (back to top of page)

Passed Pro-Immigrant Legislation | Proposed Pro-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: OR New Sanctuary Movement, CAUSA, Ecumenical Ministries of OR (statement, resources), OR Action

Pennsylvania (back to top of page)

List of Proposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Pennsylvania Compact

Advocates: Peace and Justice Committee: Franconia and Eastern District Conferences, PA Council of Churches Advoacy blog, PA Immigration and Citizenship Coaltion, ACLU Immigrants' Rights PA

News: PA House okays penalties for hiring undocumented immigrants

Rhode Island (back to top of page)

2012 Proposed E-Verify Legislation

2011 Proposed Pro-Immigrant Legislation | bill text

Advocates: RI Council of Churches, RI Jobs with Justice, Fuerza Laboral

South Carolina (back to top of page)

Passed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | SB 20 bill text

Advocates: SC Christian Action Council, SC Immigration Coalition, SC Appleseed Justice Center

News:   Federal judge enjoins key provisions of SC's immigration law  |  SB 20 law will also affect legal residents

Tennessee (back to top of page)

List of legislation (positive and negative)

Advocates: TN Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition

Texas (back to top of page)

Passed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | Proposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: Reform Immigration for TX, Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition 

Utah (back to top of page)

2011: Passed package of pro- and anti- immigrant bills | enforcement measures blocked by judge | Department of Justice meets with Utah officials to review HB 497 provisions

     HB 497: Enforcement measures
     HB 116: Guest worker program

Utah Compact

Advocates:   ACLU Immigrants' Rights UT, United for Social Justice

Vermont (back to top of page)

Failed Anti-Immigrant Amendment

Advocates: VT Migrant Farmworkers Solidarity Project, VT Workers' Center

Virginia (back to top of page)

Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Advocates: Virginia Interfaith Center, Virginia Organizing, Virginia New Majority

Washington State (back to top of page)

Proposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | Other bills

Advocates: Washington Immigration Reform Coalition, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

Wisconsin (back to top of page)

Proposed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | bill text

Advocates: WI Council of Churhces, Voces de la Frontera

Wyoming (back to top of page)

Failed Anti-Immigrant Legislation | bill text

Advocates: Wyoming Association of Churches (statement),

Photo credit: Marxchivist/flickr