Civil Rights Panel to Tackle State Immigration Law

POLITICO 

By Tal Kopan

August 9, 2012

http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2012/08/civil-rights-panel-to-tackle-state-mmigration-laws-131561.html 

In the wake of the Supreme Court's recent split decision on Arizona's anti-illegal immigration law, a federal panel that monitors civil rights enforcement is set to wade in to the debate over such legislation and its impact on civil rights. The setting for the event will be freighted, both in time and place. The Aug. 17 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights hearing will take place the same day as the final brief is due in a last-ditch effort to block a central part of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 from going into effect. 

The session will be in Birmingham, Ala., a state that has passed immigration-related legislation some contend is tougher than Arizona'’s controversial legislation. According to the agenda, speakers will include Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, Alabama Rep. Chris England, Alabama Sen. Scott Beason and Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams. 

Georgia and Alabama both passed laws modeled after Arizona'’s, though pending court challenges have kept some of their provisions from taking effect. 

Kobach helped write S.B. 1070 and Alabama'’s law and has urged the Kansas Legislature to pass similar legislation. Other panelists include academics, advocates and local officials from states that have tough immigration laws and from immigrants' rights organizations. It'’s not clear if the hearing is part of a series of meetings or a one-off event.  A call to a Civil Rights Commission spokeswoman was not immediately returned.