Illegal Immigration

This year Senator John Snow voted in the North Carolina Senate to provide additional funding and support to the enforcement of current immigration laws that North Carolina has, require that all people present a valid social security number in order to receive a driver’s license, allow state and local officers to enforce immigration laws, require all new State hires to be screened for legal presence or citizenship, and provide severe penalties for people who engage in human trafficking. A more through description of his votes is listed below.

Provide greater enforcement of immigration laws. As a response to the federal government’s failure to enforce immigration laws, the Senate approved allowing state and local law enforcement agencies to give their officers the authority to investigate, arrest and detain illegal immigrants. (SB 1523)

Strengthen driver’s license security measures. The Senate voted to eliminate the use of the Individual Taxpayer ID Number (ITIN) as a valid ID document for driver’s license applicants. The Internal Revenue Service, which issues the ITIN to taxpayers but does not verify their lawful presence in the United States, has cautioned states against accepting this federal document as proof of identity for driver’s licenses. (SB 602)

Prohibit state government from hiring illegal immigrants. State agencies will be required to check a federal database to verify that newly hired employees are authorized to work in the United States (SB 1523). In addition, the budget provides funds to hire legal staff in the Office of State Personnel to make sure North Carolina is in compliance with federal laws regarding the employment of foreign nationals. (SB 1741)

Penalties for human trafficking (HB 1896): Tough criminal penalties for human trafficking, which frequently involves the exploitation of agricultural workers, as well as individuals working as domestic servants, or trafficking women and children for sexual exploitation.

Earlier this year, Senators also approved requiring local prison officers and jail administrators to verify the citizenship of felony and DWI prisoners, but this proposal (HB 1048) did not become law this session.

To protect Western North Carolina against illegal aliens Senator Snow believes in a three step solution that includes: Securing the Border, Identifying all illegal aliens, and requiring them to return home - and only allow them to come back if they do so legally. Senator Snow will continue to promote and vote for common sense strategies that will protect the jobs and families of those of us in Western North Carolina.