Thread: AZ-OK likely for all AZ police to arrest illegal entrants

OK likely for all AZ police to arrest illegal entrants
By Howard Fischer
Published: 06.14.2009

103 Comments on this story

PHOENIX — Police officers throughout Arizona would have clear authority to arrest illegal immigrants under the terms of legislation given preliminary Senate approval on Friday.
SB 1175 would expand state laws against trespassing to also include anyone not in this country legally.
First-time offenders could be jailed for up to six months. But the legislation would permit — but not require — police to turn violators over to Customs and Border Protection for deportation.
That right would not exist for subsequent offenses. And those caught again would face 2 1/2 years in prison. Separately, the Senate also agreed to make it a felony for any individual to knowingly or recklessly conceal, harbor or shield any illegal immigrant. That crime could land someone in prison for five years.
But the penalty would double if the person was doing the hiding for commercial purposes or financial gain. And the sentence could increase to 20 years if whoever was being hidden was seriously injured or placed in mortal jeopardy.
SB 1280, sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson, is aimed at allowing county attorneys to prosecute smugglers who put people into "safe houses."
Lawmakers did agree to create several exemptions from prosecution. That includes members of the illegal immigrant's own family, a victim services provider or a community-based organization that assists victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking.
Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, the sponsor of the trespassing bill, said he believes state and local police already have the authority to enforce federal immigration laws. He said SB 1175 removes any doubt by creating a state-law violation.
"All this does is take the handcuffs off of them and allow them to do their job," he said. A final roll-call vote is needed before both measures go to the House.




http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/296988

MAN! I would LOVE to see this happen in NC.

Ditto in Idaho!!! why can AZ pass all of these laws and the rest of the states seem to think they can't??

Why the exemptions?

Lawmakers did agree to create several exemptions from prosecution. That includes members of the illegal immigrant's own family, a victim services provider or a community-based organization that assists victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking.

I don't like that part of it at all....illegal is illegal.

I didn't pick up on that, how strange and why would they do something like that, it makes the bill worthless!

Arizona has seen a little boost since Janet is out. Sheriff Joe was just funded. Something that wasn't happened so easily when old Janet was here and hating him in public. Along with Phil Gordon who they need to dump.

She is a disaster and it's going to show more now that the whole country has to deal with her incompetency.

Also, Arizona and California are really getting hit with the cost of illegals. It seems to take about a decade for the numbers to really surface. The budget gets tighter and tighter until people can't deny it anymore. Arnold can't seem to figure out that it makes more sense to get rid of benefits to illegals than to close his parks. When the parks are not managed more illegals will camp out in them and the wildfire problems will surface again.

I think a good portion of the tax-funded programs for illegals just ends up at the Western Union going to Mexico.

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK.