According to a study by the National Conference of State Legislatures, 44 states have considered immigration in one form or another this year. That's all but one of the state legislatures that are actually in session. The most common bills seek to ban driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, and some of the most restrictive require employers to check potential workers' immigration status in a computer database. New Mexico passed legislation enacting tough penalties for human trafficking. Other states limited immigrants' access to higher education, while a few made it easier for them to take English classes. So despite its limited relevance in the presidential race, immigration is still very much alive as an issue nationwide.
--Dana Goldstein
