Thread: AZ: New sanctions law will not be enforced retroactively

This issue seems to go back and forth?
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New sanctions law will not be enforced retroactively
Michael Kiefer
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 17, 2007 02:52 PM

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office said it will not retroactively enforce the new employer sanctions law once it goes into effect Jan. 1.

The county's top prosecutor, Andrew Thomas, said that it will not go after businesses who have hired illegal immigrants unless an investigation shows the business has kept illegal immigrants on the payroll after Jan. 1.

Thomas took the time Monday to stress patience and address how he will enforce the new law, which punishes businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Complex investigators of this kind usually take a good deal of time," Thomas said. "Such investigations commonly take months or longer to complete."

He said he and investigating agencies will not be rushed for results.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... ONL17.html

Complex investigators of this kind usually take a good deal of time,"

How so?


"Complex" is a word they always use when they don't really want to do anything. They are implying it is just so complicated, and we mere citizens cannot understand the problems involved.

Translation: WE don't really want to do this, so we are going to drag out feet as much as possible.

The county's top prosecutor, Andrew Thomas, said that it will not go after businesses who have hired illegal immigrants unless an investigation shows the business has kept illegal immigrants on the payroll after Jan. 1.

Thomas took the time Monday to stress patience and address how he will enforce the new law, which punishes businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

This saves the tax payer money and let's the politicians and employers pretend they haven't done anything wrong. Probably the only workable plan. As long as they put a stop to it, who cares about penalties? The cost of prosecution, appeals, and penalties would get passed to the taxpayers. I think we can all agree they've been stuck for enough already.

The headline is misleading. They won't pursue the business if the business no longer has any illegal aliens employed.

The issue in this state actually is, will they only pursue illegal aliens hired before January 1st and leave the ones already working alone? Or will they go after illegal aliens hired after January 1st? That's what Gov. Napolitano wanted...

I think they're going to concentrate on new hires first, then go after old hires. It'll take some time. In the meantime, illegals should start making plans to get home before they're caught.

Now this
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Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 11:46 AM MST
Employer sanctions law will apply to past and future hires, Thomas says

The Business Journal of Phoenix - by Mike Sunnucks Phoenix Business Journal

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said he interprets Arizona's new employer sanctions law as pertaining to both past and future hires, and he will act accordingly.

After the law goes into effect Jan. 1, the county can prosecute businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants and revoke their business licenses on second offense. But there have been disputes over whether the law focuses only on new hires, or also includes current workers.

A slew of business organizations -- including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform -- are challenging the law in federal court.

Thomas and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio have vowed to enforce the new law.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stor ... ily16.html

Unless an illegal plans on never leaving the employ of whoever he'd been working for before Jan 1, he might be safe.

However, if he takes a new job, he will become a new hire.

How many do you think will stay with the same employer forever?