Thread: How will Arizona's new identity theft law affect illegals?

John Overall Asks the Tough Question
How will Arizona's new identity theft law affect illegal workers?

Sep 7, 2007 01:05 AM

When it comes to identity theft, Arizona is number one in the nation.

It's not a stat the state is proud of.

Now the law is getting tougher and illegal immigrants who use false identification to get a job will soon be targets.

At this time, according to state law, it's a felony if a person uses false identification leading to economic loss of $3,000 or more.

On September 19, the law will change, making it a class three felony for anyone using false identification to obtain employment.

Pima County Attorney, Barbara LaWall, says her office will aggressively prosecute this new identity theft law. "This is a class three felony, it's a serious felony, and it carries a significant penalty. There's a potential of 2 to 7 years in prison."

News 4 asked LaWall, "It might appear to some that you are going to go after undocumented workers and try to slap them with a big time felony. Is that the goal here?"

LaWall responded, "Well if it's brought to our attention, absolutely we're going to prosecute, there's no question about it. And it will be an easy case to prove."

News 4 followed up by asking, "If you prosecute an illegal for having false identification under this new statute, would they then be deported at some point?"

"They would be treated as an undocumented illegal alien would be treated in any criminal offense," said LaWall. "So the answer to that is yes, and this happens all the time in cases like this were the defendant is an illegal."

LaWall also says she is moving forward with the employee sanction law which goes into affect on January 1. At that time employers in Arizona will be subject to civil penalties for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

If you'd like to learn more about that law, go to www.pcao.pima.gov.

http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=7038683&nav=HMO6HMaY

Wow......somehow I hadn't heard about this but it is certainly good news and long overdue!!!



News 4 asked LaWall, "It might appear to some that you are going to go after undocumented workers and try to slap them with a big time felony. Is that the goal here?"


This is what really surprises me....that we haven't heard literal screaming and yelling, especially from Elias Bermudez, about the usual "racism" and "discrimination", but I suppose that it would be hard for even the ACLU to interfere with a law regarding ID theft although I'm sure they would just love to do so. I mean, it's one thing for them to base legal arguments on "rights violations", etc., or phrase things so that it appears that they are trying to act in the best interests of the public at large. But, to even try to challenge an ID theft law would be coming right out and blatantly condoning a major felony on the part of illegals. I can't imagine they could, or would, do that.

Perhaps other states should consider the same type of law......it's sure going to go a long way in solving the problem, even if employer sanction laws are challenged and/or worse yet, overturned.

Originally Posted by azwreath

Wow......somehow I hadn't heard about this but it is certainly good news and long overdue!!!

Perhaps other states should consider the same type of law......it's sure going to go a long way in solving the problem, even if employer sanction laws are challenged and/or worse yet, overturned.

azwreath, I agree 100%. This new AZ law is outstanding and should be implemented nationwide. I think we need to find a congressman to write this into a bill. Illegals are stealing IDs with impunity. It's time to give them something to think about. And, by that I mean jail first and then deportation.

Hell I think Hazelton and Prince Country would eat this up. I'm off to email this to the Hazelton mayor.