Madison — People suspected of crimes in Wisconsin would have to prove they were legally in the United States or be turned over to federal immigration authorities under a bill that will be introduced next year in the newly Republican state Legislature.

"I want Wisconsin to be recognized as a state that will be on the side of Arizona," said bill author Rep. Don Pridemore (R-Hartford).

But he noted Wednesday that his bill is smaller in scope than the Arizona law that has drawn international attention and a lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice.

"This is minor in comparison of what could be done and should be done by the federal government," Pridemore said.

Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of the Milwaukee immigrant-rights group Voces de la Frontera, said any possible law would face a certain legal challenge from groups such as hers and possibly the federal government.

Neumann-Ortiz said the legal fight would be a huge distraction from other state priorities such as creating jobs and would pose a threat to the civil rights of Latinos and other minorities in the state.

"This allows for a lot of abuse for civil rights for anybody," she said. "It's irresponsible leadership."

Governor-elect Scott Walker and his fellow Republicans who will run the Legislature have said their primary focus will be on creating jobs and solving a $3 billion, two-year budget shortfall without raising taxes. But during the campaign Walker also said he would sign an Arizona-style immigration law.

Meanwhile, a top Republican leader said he could see measures even more closely aligned to Arizona's law than Pridemore's bill getting traction in the Legislature.

Under Pridemore's bill, those arrested or charged with a crime would have to show they are legally in the state with a passport, birth certificate, immigration documents or other records, if police had a reasonable suspicion they were here illegally.

They would be held in jail for up to 48 hours. If they could not prove legal presence in the state by then, they would be turned over to immigration authorities.

Pridemore noted the bill applied only to those under suspicion of violating a law. Someone pulled over for a broken tail light might have to prove his identity, but a passenger in the vehicle would not, he said.

The bill would allow citizens to sue municipalities and counties if they did not believe they were enforcing the immigration law. Those communities could pay fines of $500 a day for not complying with the law.

The bill also would prevent local governments from passing ordinances barring officials from inquiring about the immigration status of those receiving public services. Pridemore said he put that in the bill in response to a Madison ordinance, which would be automatically repealed if the bill passed.

"We're proud to be a welcoming community," said Rachel Strauch-Nelson, a spokeswoman for Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. "The new Republican majority needs to stay focused on jobs and economic development."

The Arizona bill signed into law this year is the strictest in the country. It makes the failure to carry immigration papers a crime and gives police broad authority to detain those suspected of being in the United States illegally. Arizona's law also puts requirements on employers that aren't in Pridemore's bill.

Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) said he was considering signing onto the bill.

"It sure is frustrating that the federal government under Clinton, Obama and Bush seems not to take our immigration laws seriously," Grothman said. "I have a lot of sympathy for Representative Pridemore's efforts."

Pridemore said he would introduce the bill after the two-year legislative session starts in January, but it might not be debated until later in the session.

Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester), the incoming co-chairman of the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, said Pridemore's idea has merit, but lawmakers must first focus on creating jobs and fixing the state budget. That could mean putting off the bill until fall 2011 or later.

Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau said he hadn't reviewed Pridemore's bill, but he believed such a bill could get momentum in the Legislature - as could bills that went further by replicating Arizona's law.

Jim Buchen, head lobbyist for Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, said his group would have concerns about proposals that included new requirements on employers but otherwise wouldn't get involved in immigration bills.

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said the governor-elect's transition team had not had a chance to review the bill, but he noted Walker's support for Arizona's law.

Walker initially said during the campaign that he had concerns about Arizona's immigration law, but after criticism from supporters he quickly changed positions and said he would sign such a measure.

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