Blunt seeks tougher state laws against illegal immigration; must be approved

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. -- Gov. Matt Blunt proposed a series of new state laws Monday that would crack down on illegal immigration.

The measures would penalize businesses that employ illegal immigrants or transport them, and would prohibit the creation of so-called "sanctuary cities" that prohibit local police from checking immigration documents.

All four of the new proposals would need approval from the legislature, and Blunt said he would press for their passage during next year's legislative session. He said the measures are necessary because the federal government has failed to overhaul immigration policy.

"Our open hearts and open minds, when it comes to legal immigration, doesn't mean that we have to suspend the law," Blunt said at a news conference.

One of Blunt's new measures would require public employers in the state -- like school districts or city governments -- to check the immigration status of every new hire. Blunt said the employers would be mandated to use "E-Verify," a database administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Blunt also wants to make it state crime to transport illegal immigrants for "human trafficking, drug trafficking, prostitution or illegal labor."

The third measure would ban "sanctuary cities," which prohibit local police from checking the immigration status of citizens. Blunt said he didn't know of any such cities in the state.

The fourth proposal would increase penalties on any contractor found to employ illegal immigrants, allowing the state to withhold up to 25 percent of any unpaid compensation if a contractor is found to employ illegal immigrants.