Lawmaker: Immigration Bill Still Alive

POSTED: 11:52 am MST June 30, 2009


PHOENIX -- A state lawmaker says his proposal to criminalize the presence of illegal immigrants in Arizona remains alive as the Legislature tries to wrap up its current session.

Sen. Russell Pearce said on Tuesday he's confident the measure will win approval in the Senate and that leaders have tentatively agreed to let it come to a vote in the House.

The proposal would make Arizona the only state to criminalize the presence of illegal immigrants through an expansion of its trespassing law.

Supporters say local police enforcing an expanded trespassing law would provide a second layer of enforcement to catch immigrants who slip past federal agents.

Opponents predict it would lead to racial profiling that would target thousands of Latinos who are U.S. citizens.


http://www.kpho.com/politics/19905720/detail.html