While immigration policy is something members of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Committee believe needs to be addressed, the new human smuggling law approved by Kansas lawmakers earlier this year does not, in their opinion, help anyone.
House Bill 2350 created the crimes of human smuggling and aggravated human smuggling after passing both chambers of the Legislature earlier this year. The legislation did earn a veto from Kansas Governor Laura Kelly who stated that among other issues the legislation appeared to her to be the product of a “rushed process.”
Governor Kelly was also quoted as stating she believes the legislation will “have unintended consequences, from decimating our agriculture workforce to allowing the state to encroach into Kansans’ personal lives.” Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Committee Chair Monica Vargas-Huertas, who was part of an informational session inside of the Lyon County History Center Friday evening, agreed with Governor Kelly and stated the legislation is a way to “discourage people from assisting vulnerable immigrants.”
In response to the governor’s veto of the legislation earlier this year, Kansas Republican Representative Dan Hawkins noted his belief that Governor Kelly was siding “against law and order.” Furthermore, Hawkins noted the state did not have any statutes allowing law enforcement to criminally charge individuals caught smuggling persons within the state.
To that point, Vargas-Huertas stated there are already several mechanisms in place to address issues of human trafficking and the like.
Emporian Mic McGuire organized Friday’s informational session and says he agrees with Vargas-Huertas’ point adding he also believes the bill also needs to be much clearer than it currently is.
If you would like more information on House Bill 2350, we have attached a link to the Kansas Legislature’s official page below.
Click here to be taken to the HB 2350 informational page.
