By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri House has given first-round approval to its omnibus illegal immigration bill, nearly a week after the State Senate passed its version.
The House version includes measures requiring State Troopers to be trained to enforce federal immigration laws, bars state grants to sanctuary cities, and requires commercial driver's license tests to be given in English.
That provision was opposed by State Representative Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D, University City).
"I fear these people who are coming to our country and to our wonderful city and state, I fear that they won't have an equal opportunity to live the American Dream, because the (commercial driver's license) test is limited to only English," Chappelle-Nadal said.
The bill is sponsored by State Representative Bob Onder (R, Lake St. Louis), who's also running for the 9th District U.S. Congressional seat.
"While the great majority of immigrants who come to our country are welcome - they come here for job and opportunity and to better their lot in life and their family - we want to crack down on those who come here to join gangs or sell drugs or break our laws," Onder said.
Critics say, though, that Missouri is sending a message to both legal and illegal immigrants that they're not welcome.
The bill needs one more vote by the full House. The Missouri Senate passed a similar bill last week.
Unless one chamber adopts the other's version, House and Senate conferees will need to come up with a compromise version of the bill before sending it to Governor Matt Blunt.
Blunt strongly supports cracking down on illegal immigration.