Bill Seeks to Punish Immigrants Lacking Legal Status

Immigration was a major talking point in the presidential election, and now immigration reform could be a top priority in discussions at the Ohio Statehouse.

As lawmakers return to session, this week they will likely consider a newly proposed bill that would potentially penalize immigrants who enter the buckeye state without federal legal status.

Republican State Representative Gary Click wants to help authorities crack down on illegal immigration.

“Right now, immigration is out of control,” Click said. “In my own district in the last ten years, we’ve had four homicides against minority folks in our community. Some of our minority citizens, four of them, have been murdered. And in each case, it was an illegal immigrant that did that.”

Click recently introduced the “Enact the America First Act.” The bill creates a felony for immigrants who lack legal status and are undocumented entering the state of Ohio. It would attach a one-year prison sentence, and include a hefty fine as punishment.

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