Thread: AZ Lawmakers to toughen laws on border crimes

Arizona legislators are moving to toughen and broaden state laws against border-related crimes such as human smuggling and trafficking.

Bills prepared for consideration by legislative committees include measures to toughen human-smuggling penalties and to expand that law to cover people involved with transportation, money transmission and other services used in smuggling. There’s also legislation targeting trafficking associated with commercial sex acts.

Consideration of some of the legislation has been delayed by lawmakers’ focus on budget problems, but Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Jonathan Paton said increasing violence, kidnappings and other circumstances warrant a strong push against the problem when an embargo on non-budget bills is lifted.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/135858

February 13, 2009
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Still an Issue: Immigration measures overshadowed by budget, but not completely

By Jeremy Duda, jeremy.duda@azcapitoltimes.com

In most years, illegal immigration is one of the hottest topics in Arizona politics. But with the state budget in the red by billions of dollars, the usually high-profile issue has taken a back seat.

However, a handful of lawmakers are still focusing on illegal immigration-related issues, and a number of bills have been introduced in the Legislature. No one expects them to be taken off the back-burner until the budget is settled, but they are hoping that once the Legislature figures out how to erase a $3 billion deficit, they can once again take up the issue that often puts Arizona in the national spotlight.

Sen. Jonathan Paton, a Republican from Tucson, and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat from Phoenix, have submitted several bills on human smuggling and trafficking. Sen. Chuck Gray, a Mesa Republican, is urging the federal government to reimburse Arizona for the costs of enforcing federal immigration laws. And few would be surprised to learn that Sen. Russell Pearce has introduced nearly a dozen bills regarding illegal immigration.

“Once that’s over with we can focus on other things,â€

There is some great legislature , other law makers could learn from AZ .
It all comes down to Local , State , and County agencies to Enforce our Countries Immigration Laws .

Pityfull and shamefull Federal piss ants " Law Makers ? " LawLess Makers .