Local senator’s immigration bill is likely doomed

Newport-Mesa Sen. Tom Harman wants to make it a state crime for people who enter the country illegally to come to California.

He introduced a bill Monday — the beginning of the 2007-08 legislative session — that would make entering California illegally a misdemeanor, like trespassing. But it’s unlikely the bill will go far coming from Harman, a Republican in a Democrat-controlled legislature.

The bill would create a new law enforcement database that stores prints from all 10 fingers of people who get arrested while here illegally. It also would allow law enforcement officials who stop suspects for any offense to arrest them for criminal trespassing if they are in the country illegally, Harman said.

“The goal is to provide local public safety officials with the necessary tools to help deal with illegal aliens that are in this country,” he said.

A similar law was passed in Arizona in 2005 but was vetoed by the state’s governor, said Damon Conklin, a legislative aide to Harman.

“I’m sure some will argue that there is a concern about preempting federal law, but we feel that this bill passes the smell test on that argument,” he said.

How far the bill will go is unclear. Newport Beach Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, who recently headed a GOP task force to explore immigration reform, said he doubts the bill will get enough support to pass.

“I would expect that it would get Republican-only votes,” he said.