By Alan Lytle
Lexington, KY – Opponents of Senate Bill 6, that's the controversial measure designed to crack down on illegal immigrants, are rallying today in the State Capitol. Under the measure, police would have the authority to check the residency status of anyone they suspect is in the country illegally. Freddie Peralta, with the Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, tells WKYT Television, the bill goes too far.
"It will give the police a lot of power to intimidate people and to discourage people coming to the state to do business students, foreign investors Kentucky, I guess that's what some people wanted, will be pointed out as one of the states, that people from other places, shouldn't come to visit, and that is very negative for our future."
The bill's sponsor, State Senator John Schickel, says something has to be done to address a growing problem in the state. He says the legislature needs to act because the federal government has failed to do so. Schickel's bill has passed the Republican controlled Senate but its fate is uncertain in the Democrat dominant House.