Thread: AZ-House signals approval for immigration bill

House signals approval for immigration bill

March 23, 2010 4:20 PM

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona House gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a proposal that would criminalize the presence of illegal immigrants in the state.

Lawmakers didn't debate the bill's merits before endorsing the measure. The bill would make Arizona the only state to criminalize the presence of the state's estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants through an expansion of its trespassing law.

It also bans soft immigration policies in police agencies and require officers to try to determine people's immigration status when there's reasonable suspicion they are in the country illegally.

A similar bill cleared the Senate in February and is expected to be heard by committee in the House.


http://www.yourwestvalley.com/articles/ ... -bill.html

while I respect this, it means they will come running to california

What is the time frame for this bill to possibly become LAW? The sooner the better is what I hope to hear.

Woo hoo!! Way to go Arizona!! You're my new Hero State, along with Oklahoma, at least my understanding is these two states are some of the best at passing and enforcing immigration laws.

Sorry sdbrit68 - But if Californians can do the same, then illegal aliens will leave there too. I know you’re trying!

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-5051--0-0.html

Originally Posted by builditnow

Woo hoo!! Way to go Arizona!! You're my new Hero State, along with Oklahoma, at least my understanding is these two states are some of the best at passing and enforcing immigration laws.

Sorry sdbrit68 - But if Californians can do the same, then illegal aliens will leave there too. I know you’re trying!

mexifornia ?

home of the liberal sanctuary city's.....if we ever got a governor with guts maybe

House OKs illegal immigration measure
Comments 4

Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services

March 23, 2010 - 5:12PM


Without a word of debate, the House on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a series of changes in state law designed to combat illegal immigration.

HB 2632 would allow police to arrest anyone who is in this country illegally and charge them with trespass, a state offense. That is designed to ensure that officers have clear legal authority to detain illegal immigrants.

Whether the provision is legal, though, remains to be seen.

Federal courts elsewhere have rejected similar laws from other states, saying only Congress can approve laws allowing the arrest of those who entered the country illegally. But Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, who has been behind much of the legislation aimed at illegal immigrants, said he believes it will be upheld if challenged.

The measure also seeks to overrule what Pearce has called “sanctuary policies.â€

Tough Bill Advances in Arizona on Illegal Immigrants
By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD
Published: March 23, 2010

ANGELES — The Arizona Legislature gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a proposal that would allow the police to arrest illegal immigrants on trespassing charges simply for being in the state.

(March 24, 2010) The provision, which opponents and proponents call a first in the nation, is part of a wide-ranging bill whose sponsors say they hope will make life tougher for illegal immigrants.

The House bill must be reconciled with a version passed by the Senate, something that may be done within the next week or two. Both include measures to outlaw the hiring of day laborers off the street; prohibit anyone from knowingly transporting an illegal immigrant, even a relative, anywhere in the state; and compel local police to check the status of people they reasonably suspect are in the country illegally.

Immigrant advocates call the bill some of the harshest legislation they have seen in a state where battles over immigration are particularly sharp edged.

Its sponsors said Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican facing a primary competition from conservatives, has indicated her support, though her spokesman said she would not take a position until the final bill reaches her desk.

State Senator Russell Pearce, a Republican and the chief sponsor of the legislation, brushed aside concerns raised by civil libertarians that the law would open the door to racial profiling. The local office of the American Civil Liberties Union says the bill is unconstitutional.

Mr. Pearce said the bill gives the police another tool and compensates for lax enforcement of immigration law by the federal authorities. The police, he said, do not have to arrest every illegal immigrant on trespassing charges, but it gives them that discretion.

“American citizens have a constitutional right to expect their rights and laws to be enforced,â€

Very good Arizona!! Keep up the good work. California should do the same. And all states. It is time to stop illegal aliens.