Texarkana Gazette Editorial Board takes up the illegal immigration ballot initiative

Now that AG Dustin McDaniel has approved the name and ballot title of a proposed ballot initiative that would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to receive public benefits in Arkansas, the Texarkana Gazette weighs in on the proposal:

We appreciate the intentions of those behind this proposal, but we doubt that it will accomplish anything much, even if passed. What is needed is a ban on public benefits of any kind to illegal immigrants that will withstand court scrutiny coupled with a reliable means of verifying immigration status.

America was built by immigrants and immigrants are still an important part of our nation’s future. As long as they respect our laws. And that starts with respecting the laws that determine who may legally come here.

Secure Arkansas, the group that submitted the proposal, will now begin collecting the 61,974 signatures needed to place the measure on the November ballot. They have until July 7 to collect the signatures. If approved, the measure would require government agencies at the state, county and city levels to verify the lawful presence in the U.S. of any person 14 or older applying for public benefits (applicants would be required to swear under penalty of perjury that they are in the country legally). Exemptions are included for emergency medical treatment, immunizations, testing and treatment of communicable diseases, prenatal care or public school enrollment.