By Associated Press
Springfield, IL – An Illinois Republican state representative has proposed an Arizona-style immigration law that calls for heightened police scrutiny. Representative Randy Ramey claims illegal immigrants cost Illinois taxpayers billions of dollars in education and health care services. Among other things, the Illinois proposal would let police determine the immigration status of a person if the officer reasonably suspects the person is in the country illegally. The bill likely faces big hurdles in Illinois, which has some of the most immigrant-friendly laws nationwide. Several immigrant rights groups have protested the bill and painted Ramey as an extremist. The bill is currently in committee.