Restaurant group joins action against employer sanctions law

The Business Journal of Phoenix - 4:28 PM MST Thursday, July 19, 2007
by Mike Sunnucks

An Arizona food industry group has joined a business lawsuit asking the federal courts to throw out a new state law that punishes companies caught hiring illegal immigrants.

The Arizona Restaurant & Hospitality Association said Thursday it was joining the Arizona Contractors Association and Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform in their lawsuit against the employer sanctions law.

The state approved the employer sanctions law earlier this month. It suspends or revokes the licenses of businesses caught knowingly and intentionally hiring illegal immigrants. The sanctions push has strong support from conservatives in the Legislature and does well in public opinion polls.

Business leaders have lambasted the state law, arguing that immigration is a federal matter and that the new rules violate due process laws, are racist toward Hispanics and could put legitimate businesses out of commission, costing jobs.

Sanctions backers counter that the businesses hiring illegal immigrants are breaking the law and exploiting cheap labor, and that they have an unfair labor cost advantage over firms playing by the rules.

Other business groups are expected to join the lawsuit.

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