© 2026 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Kansas lawmakers take up issue of illegal immigrants

By Peter Hancock

Topeka, Kansas – The number of undocumented workers in Kansas has been soaring in recent years. Many are drawn here by jobs in the meat packing industry in southwest Kansas. Others come here as children of those workers. They grow up in Kansas and attend public schools, only to find out later that they can't go to college, or even get a drivers license. Kansas lawmakers are debating bills this year that would address those issues. But those bills are raising questions about how far the state should go to accommodate illegal immigrants. Statehouse reporter Peter Hancock has this report.

KCUR is here for Kansas City, because Kansas City is here for KCUR.

Your support makes KCUR's work possible — from reporting that keeps officials accountable, to storytelling that connects our community. You can make sure the future of local journalism is strong.