Apr 14, 2010

Arizona House OKs bill making it a crime to be in country illegally

02:13 PM
By Ross D. Franklin, AP

The Arizona House of Representatives has passed a tough -- but controversial -- immigration-control bill that would make it a state crime to be in the country illegally, The Arizona Republic reports.

The bill, which passed Tuesday on a party-line vote, must now be reconciled by the state Senate before it can be sent to the governor.


All 35 Republicans supported the bill; all 21 Democrats present voted "no." Four Democrats were absent.


Among the provisions:

Anyone whom police suspect of being in the country illegally would be required to produce "an alien registration document" or pay a minimum $500 fine.
It would be illegal to seek work from a road or sidewalk if doing so slows traffic.
It would be a crime to pick up someone, such as a day laborer, if a driver "knows or recklessly disregards the fact that the alien is here illegally," the newspaper says.
Violations of immigration law currently are a federal matter, not enforceable by local law-enforcement agencies. This will would make such violations a state crime.

"Police should be allowed to pursue any and all illegalities in this country," said Republican state Rep. John Kavanagh, the Republic reports.

The newspaper quotes an attorney for the ACLU of Arizona as warning that "many innocent U.S. citizens, Native Americans and lawful residents will be swept up in the application of the law because of the requirement that officers detain and investigate the immigration status of people they come across."
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