Some TX reps jump on Arizona bandwagon

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Lone Star State has its own battles with immigration, and in the past week some Republican lawmakers have vowed to mirror the much-maligned actions of their neighbors to the West.

State Rep. Debbie Riddle said Wednesday she will propose immigration reform legislation like the controversial law passed in Arizona, joining another lawmaker who promised the same last week.

The new Arizona law says police can stop people just on the suspicion they might be in the state illegally and it is now a crime for Arizona immigrants to lack registration documents.

Riddle, a Tomball Republican, joined Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, who last week he would also introduce similar legislation when the Legislature convenes in January 2011.

"The opponents of this want to make it a big racial profiling thing, want to make it a big racist thing," said Rep. Riddle.  "It has nothing to do with that.  Has everything to do with safety and security."

The Chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus in the Texas House said he doubts the bill would pass in Texas.

"I think I can get more support for legislation to have Leo Berman and Debbie Riddle deported to Arizona," said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio. "We have enough work to do and our time is better spent working on issues that we can actually solve."

The Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition gathered in Plaza Saltillo in Austin Wednesday morning to express their opposition to the Arizona law and to announce their intent to fight any similar legislation introduced in Texas.

"The law that was passed in Arizona is not something that we welcome in the state of Texas," said Joe Cardenas, Texas LULAC Director.

The AIRC has planned a march for Saturday, May 1 to begin at the Capitol at 4 p.m. and end at Austin City Hall. The group said they support responsible immigration reform.