Members of Sunflower Community Action assembled Wednesday in the Statehouse to urge rejection of two bills that they said would hurt immigrants.

Advocates for undocumented immigrants on Wednesday urged the Legislature to reject a bill that would establish an Arizona-like “proof of citizenship” law.

About 50 people with Wichita-based Sunflower Community Action assembled in the Statehouse to protest Senate Bill 140 and House Bill 2192.

SB 140 would authorize law enforcement to determine an individual’s immigration status if reasonable suspicion exists that the person is here illegally. The measure has been referred to the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, but no hearing has been held.

HB 2192 would repeal in-state tuition for some undocumented, college-eligible immigrant students. No hearing has been set on this bill either, but supporters of the current law note that the repeal could easily be amended into any bill dealing with the budget or education.

Several young people spoke at the rally about how they were brought to Kansas as infants by their parents who were seeking a better life for their families. They said they consider Kansas their home and that the proposed bills would provide a hardship for many hard-working families.