Topeka ? Hispanics are Kansas’ fastest-growing ethnic group, but legislators continue to pursue immigration policies leading some of them to believe they’re not really welcome.

While critics see that message in proposals before the Republican-controlled Legislature, backers say they’re responding to demands from constituents to do something about illegal immigration.

Lawmakers are considering designating English the state’s official language and cracking down on voter fraud. There’s talk about denying government services to illegal immigrants, while efforts to impose tougher penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants have proven problematic.

Meanwhile, there’s little doubt about demographic trends. The state’s Hispanic population doubled between 1990 and 2000, and according to the nonpartisan, Washington-based Pew Hispanic Center, it grew an additional 19 percent between 2000 and 2005, to about 218,000 in a population of 2.7 million.

“All of the bills send a message of a preoccupation of immigration. It’s not based on anything rational,” said Melinda Lewis, policy and research director for El Centro, Inc., an advocacy group in the Kansas City area.

Nationwide issue

A decade ago, immigration was an issue for a half-dozen states, but it now spans the nation.

Last year, 84 proposals in 32 states became law, and 570 bills were introduced, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. This year has seen similar activity on issues like education, employment, public benefits and human trafficking.

“There are immigrants in every state, and states are trying to figure out what to do because the federal government hasn’t acted,” said Sheri Steisel, who follows immigration issues for the NCSL.

The Pew Center estimates that up to 70,000 illegal immigrants are living in Kansas. Lewis said most are from Latin America.

Official English

House Majority Leader Ray Merrick said Kansans are frustrated and worry that illegal immigrants consume resources and burden the health care system. He said when he surveys his district, “It’s the No. 1 issue.”

The English bill has received the most comment so far. The idea still faces criticism even though House members added a provision aimed at bolstering adult language education programs before approving it two weeks ago.

“It’s a type of racism,” said Rodrigo Bonilla, of Salina, state director of the League of United Latin American Citizens. “Some people are uncomfortable to hear people speaking other languages.”

But Rep. Don Myers, the bill’s main sponsor, said Bonilla and other critics are “flat wrong.” The bill is about helping non-English speakers assimilate into society, so they can fill some of the 3,000 to 5,000 new jobs the state will create over the next three years, he said.

“You have to be able to communicate in a common language to get these jobs,” Myers said.

Other measures

Denying benefits like welfare and unemployment to illegal immigrants is being pushed by Rep. Lance Kinzer, though his bill wouldn’t include education and emergency medical care because of federal law.

“The Legislature should take a strong stand that public benefits only are going to those who lawfully should receive them,” said Kinzer, R-Olathe.

His bill also repeals a 2004 law allowing illegal immigrants to pay lower, in-state tuition at state universities if they’ve graduated from a Kansas high school and are seeking U.S. citizenship.

“It’s the worst decision they could make,” said Cindy Perez, a Pittsburg State University student from Olathe, who attended an annual Hispanic Day event at the Statehouse last week. “A lot of students are dependent on that. If they are forced to pay out-of-state tuition, there will be fewer students.”

Meanwhile, a Senate-passed bill requires people to prove American citizenship when registering to vote by showing either a birth certificate or U.S. passport.

Backers say it will prevent election fraud. Detractors complain people would have to pay for birth certificates or passports, which they say makes it an unconstitutional poll tax.

When the session started, lawmakers also talked about getting tough on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. But they soon found that federal law limits states to denying contracts or revoking licenses of violators.

“One of the areas that is unsettled law is just how much states can do in the area of enforcing our nation’s employment laws,” Steisel said.

The House Federal and State Affairs Committee still plans to consider a bill banning state and local governments from signing contracts with businesses convicted of hiring illegal immigrants. Similar legislation stalled in the Senate.