States Passing Fewer Immigration Laws in 2012: Study

=The National Conference of State Legislatures found 41 states enacted 114 bills and adopted 92 resolutions relating to immigrants and refugees in the first six months of this year, a decline of 20 percent compared to the same period in 2011.

"Legislators found that state budget gaps and redistricting maps took priority, consuming much of the legislative schedule," according to a report by the group's Immigration Policy Project.

"Perhaps more significant, state lawmakers cited pending litigation on states' authority to enforce immigration laws as further reason to postpone action," it added.

Immigration, particularly what to do about 11 million illegal immigrants living and working in the shadows nationwide, has been a divisive issue in this nation of immigrants.

Arizona Republican Governor Jan Brewer signed a law two years ago designed to drive illegal immigrants out of the border state. Parts of the law were later blocked by a federal judge.

Last year, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah also ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/06/us-usa-immgration-states-idUSB...