FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Julian Teixeira
(202) 776-1812
jteixeira@nclr.org
WASHINGTON, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) hailed a vote yesterday in the Republican-led Kansas House of Representatives that dealt an overwhelming, bipartisan blow to Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s efforts to enact legislation that would have legalized and legitimized racial profiling in the state. The 40-84 vote against the bill mirrored recent rejections of extreme anti-immigrant measures in other states such as in Arizona, the birthplace of such legislation, where the state Senate defeated a host of extreme proposals last week.
“I am very proud that my home state of Kansas rejected such an extreme course on immigration—represented by legislators such as Rep. Virgil Peck—and has opted instead to have a more constructive debate on this important issue,” stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “I also commend the social, religious, business, and community leaders and activists who fought very hard against this draconian measure.”
Several other states—including Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Virginia, and Wyoming—have also recently rejected or declined to consider extreme anti-immigrant, anti-Latino legislation.
“We are heartened that the tide is turning and that these legislatures are realizing that, in a time of unprecedented fiscal crisis, considering legislation which is costly, discriminatory, and completely ineffective is a waste of both politicians’ and taxpayers’ time,” Murguía concluded.
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