Illegal immigrants to be Outlawed in Arizona
A bill was approved by the Arizona House on Tuesday that aims to crack down on immigration by making it against the state law to be in Arizona without legal documents.
House Republicans advanced the measure on a 35-21 party-line vote. The bill as celebrated by the supporters as a good measure to protect the state from violent criminals. The state’s failing economy has drawn illegal immigrants from the state. But it is expected that as the economy rebounds the population of illegal immigrants will also go up.
The measure has several provisions like:
-- Create a new state misdemeanor crime of willful failure to complete or carry an alien registration document.
-- Allow officers to arrest immigrants unable to show documents proving they're legally in the country.
-- Ban so-called soft immigration policies at local police agencies and allow people to sue if they feel a government agency has adopted a policy that hinders the enforcement of illegal immigration laws.
-- Prohibit people from blocking traffic when they seek or offer day-labor services on street corners
- Make it illegal for people to transport illegal immigrants if the drivers of vehicles know their passengers are in the country illegally and if the transportation furthers their illegal presence in the country.
Under the new provision the law enforcement authorities will be empowered to ask people about their immigration status but opponent fear that it might put off victims and witnesses.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, who is one of Arizona's loudest voices opposing illegal immigration.
Tuesday's vote demonstrated Pearce's political power at the Legislature and underscored the pressure on Republicans to support crackdowns on illegal immigration.
The measure won support from all 35 House Republicans, including a handful who said they had serious concerns with the legislation. At the moment the bill is being closely watched by both the opponents as well as supporters of the bill on a national basis.
