Sharp upward trend in State initiated immigration legislation

According to this report from the National Conference of State Legislatures, the website of which I found simply by Googling the search words "states with immigration legislation", there has been a dramatic upward trend among the various states in this Union, over the last several years, in tackling the immigration situation at the state and local level.

It's not, by any means, and from an immigration restrictionist standpoint, all good news, but it is, overall, good news I think.

Certainly go to the site and read the entire report. But here's a couple of snippits:

We're witnessing a trend of states willing to take the lead in responding to immigration challenges when Congress will not," said William T. Pound, executive director of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). "States are looking at creative solutions to law enforcement and work-site enforcement as well as considering the needs and contributions of legal immigrants to the United States.

[...]

State laws related to immigration have increased dramatically in recent years:

• In 2005, 300 bills were introduced and 38 laws were enacted.

• In 2006, activity doubled: 570 bills were introduced and 84 laws were enacted.

• In 2007, activity tripled: 1,562 bills were introduced and 240 laws were enacted.

Of course the concluding remarks in Mr. Pound's statement is a bone of contention with me. If it's legal then it's automatically good, right Mr. Pound? Because we all know that legal equals good, which is why the neocons are all for legal immigration and only oppose illegal immigration, which of course creates its own set of problems, as I and others have said so many times before.

The needs and contributions of legal immigrants -- and like I said, if it's legal it's automatically good, therefore we're working under the assumption that the contributions of legal immigrants is altogether positive, and that their needs are paramount -- is the specific language that offends me.

But like I said, the report is interesting and the site is interesting, and I'm sure I'll be referring to them again. And I hope you'll get some use from them too.