This bill mandates that prosecutors verify the immigration status of people who plead guilty to or are convicted of felonies. Once an individual is verified to be an undocumented immigrant, the bill authorizes notifying employers and other government entities, license removal, and ineligibility for state benefits for them and their families.
Jurisdiction/Legislation Level
State
LCS Legislation Status
http://lsc.state.oh.us/coderev/hou129.nsf/House+Bill+Number/0252?OpenDoc...
Our Take on This Bill
HB 252 is an unnecessary and excessive expansion of law that has prosecuting attorneys take on the additional role of immigration enforcement. Despite the complexities of immigration law, this bill tasks prosecutors with tracking down citizenship and immigration status, as well as initiating a process that jeopardizes employment, driver’s licenses, and government benefits. Although undocumented immigrants are already ineligible for almost all state and federal government benefits, this bill also strips eligibility from their families for some programs, no matter their citizenship status.
Committees
Transportation / Public Safety / Homeland Security (H)