Immigration enforcement is cooling off in state legislatures

Immigration enforcement continues to be a hot issue in state legislatures, but not as much as in previous years. The number of immigration-related bills introduced in 2012 has dropped significantly from last year, according to a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

The report looks at legislation introduced from January 1 through March 31. During that period, NCSL says, 865 bills and resolutions relating to immigrants and refugees were introduced in 45 state legislatures and the District of Columbia. That is 673 fewer ­— a 44 percent decrease — than in the first quarter of 2011.

Read the entire story in American City & County, our sister publication.