Agriculture groups, contractors tell Miss. lawmakers they oppose immigration-enforcement bill
Building contractors and agriculture groups, including those representing the poultry industry and sweet-potato growers, say they’re against an immigration-enforcement bill awaiting debate in Mississippi.
Their opposition indicates growing political difficulties for a bill supported by first-term Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, who won office last November with the help of tea party groups and the Mississippi Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement, which lists its goal as promoting and preserving national sovereignty.
House Bill 488 says if someone is arrested and a law enforcement officer has “reasonable suspicion” about the person’s immigration status, the officer would be required to check the immigration status before the person could be released.
AP
3/27/12