The abundance of Republican victories in the 2010 elections draw a bleak landscape for undocumented immigrants. The ascent of hard-line GOP governors (not to mention members of state legislatures) – many of whom highlighted opposition to illegal immigration in their campaigns – means that pens will be at the ready to sign bills like Arizona’s SB 1070.
Here’s a primer on the states that are likely to pass harsh immigration laws in 2011:
Georgia’s Governor-elect Nathan Deal might be the first one to bring a copycat bill to the spotlight. As a U.S. Representative, Deal was an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration and proposed changing the federal policy on birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants. Deal means business: he also proposed an amendment to the 2009 health care bill that would have required proof of citizenship for Medicaid benefits under the Health Care reform bill, and in his campaign vowed to introduce a law like SB 1070 if elected. A state that saw a rapid influx of immigrants in the 90s and early 2000s, Georgia has a history of taking a tough stance on immigration. The 2006 Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act made it more difficult for undocumented immigrants to work on state projects and to gain access to health care, higher education and public benefits.
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