Immigration committee to hold hearing in Cape Girardeau Thursday

A legislative committee looking at what, if any, steps Missouri should take to deal with immigration will hold a hearing Thursday in Cape Girardeau.

The House Special Committee on Immigration Reform will take public testimony beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Show Me Center on North Sprigg Street.

"Immigration in our country has a long and proud history," state Rep. Nathan Cooper, R-Cape Girardeau, said in a news release announcing the hearing. "We need to protect the honesty and integrity of our laws within the immigration system."

Cooper is a member of the special committee, which is chaired by state Rep. Edgar Emery, R-Lamar. State Rep. Billy Pat Wright, R-Dexter, is also a member of the committee.

During the 2006 legislative session, the committee considered several proposals to crack down on illegal immigration and the employment of undocumented workers. Those measures included seeking repayment from employers receiving state tax credits, barring illegal immigrants from state colleges or universities and barring employers who hire illegal immigrants from winning state contracts. None of the proposals became law.