This week (3.10.2011):

New Mexico Rejects Plan to End Immigrant Licenses

The Senate has rejected a Republican-backed proposal to stop New Mexico from issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

The Senate voted 24-17 Wednesday night against a proposal that would have ended the practice of granting licenses to foreign nationals without a Social Security number.

South Carolina State Senate Approves Arizona-Style Immigration Bill

After a late-night vote, the South Carolina Senate passed a bill that would require law enforcement to ask about suspects' legal status.

The measure directs law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of a person they suspect is in the country illegally.

Immigration Activists March 12 Miles from Ellis Island to Elizabeth Detention Facility

35 activists and immigrants walked a 12-mile journey from Ellis Island to the Elizabeth immigration detention facility to protest unjust detention processes.

This is the second year for the immigration march, which marks Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent as a way to call attention to the injustices faced by immigrants and their families, said Kathy O’Leary, one of the event organizers and a coordinator for the New Jersey region of Pax Christi, a Catholic peace group.

Maryland Senate Weighs Bill to Give In-State Tuition to Undocumented Immigrants

Opponents of the so-called “Maryland DREAM Act” appeared outgunned in the Senate but vowed to fight on. A vote on the measure may come as early as Monday, after proponents crossed a procedural threshold late Wednesday evening.

Proponents said it makes moral and practical sense to allow undocumented immigrants who attended Maryland high schools to pay the same tuition as their high school classmates who are legal residents or citizens.

Oklahoma House Passes Arizona-Style Immigration Bill

A bill patterned after an Arizona measure that allows local law enforcement to stop motorists and inquire about their immigration status has been approved in the Oklahoma House.

The bill passed Thursday on an 85-7 vote despite concerns from some members it didn't go far enough to target businesses that hire illegal immigrants.

Andrew Simpson

Andrew Simpson is a Policy and Outreach Associate at Sojourners.