Thread: AZ: Lawmaker Defends Employer Sanctions Law

Lawmaker Defends Employer Sanctions Law
July 14th, 2007 @ 7:42am
by Doug Ramsey/KTAR

A key lawmaker says the state's new employer sanctions law won't hurt businesses who follow it.

Peoria Senator Bob Burns helped negotiate the law. He disputes that it will devastate Arizona's economy.

"We believe that if the employers show due diligence in their employment practices, then they're protected," says Burns.

That means checking new hires against a federal database and checking IDs as required by federal law.

Burns says businesses should work to solve the immigration problem instead of starting a fight.

Two business groups filed a lawsuit Friday challenging the new Arizona law that makes it a crime to knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

The Arizona Contractors Association and Arizona Employers For Immigration Reform asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the new rules, which were signed into law 11 days ago by Gov. Janet Napolitano.

The business groups argued the law is an unconstitutional attempt by the state to regulate immigration and that cracking down on such hirings is a responsibility of the federal government.


http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=540878


You're the man!

The Arizona Contractors Association and Arizona Employers For Immigration Reform asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the new rules, which were signed into law 11 days ago by Gov. Janet Napolitano.

The business groups argued the law is an unconstitutional attempt by the state to regulate immigration and that cracking down on such hirings is a responsibility of the federal government.

the usual suspects and the same arguement.... i cant wait til we win this one...

I hope the folks in Arizona are organizing boycotts aganst this group as we speak. If their products don't sell they won't need so many employees.

Two business groups filed a lawsuit Friday challenging the new Arizona law that makes it a crime to knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Okay, I'm a little confused here. Why are these business concerned with going after a state that makes it a crime to knowingly hire illegals when there is already a federal law against it. In a perfect world the judge would dismiss the claims under the "no standing" rule. How can these groups claim that the state law will hurt them or their businesses when it's already against federal law to hire illegals. This is ridiculous.

Originally Posted by MW

Two business groups filed a lawsuit Friday challenging the new Arizona law that makes it a crime to knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Okay, I'm a little confused here. Why are these business concerned with going after a state that makes it a crime to knowingly hire illegals when there is already a federal law against it. In a perfect world the judge would dismiss the claims under the "no standing" rule. How can these groups claim that the state law will hurt them or their businesses when it's already against federal law to hire illegals. This is ridiculous.

I don't understand the 'no standing' part. They would only have to show they were doing busines in the state of Arizona to assert jurisdiction. (??)

These people know the federal government is not going to do anything to them - even if they are caught hiring illegals.

If AZ has it's way, there will be some consequences.

When we were in AZ and a group was trying to get some reforms going - one organization that opposed any reform was the Chamber of Commerce -

I don't know if all firemen opposed it, but one silly man got on TV and said he didn't want to have to ascertain if a person was a citizen before he rescued them - what bilge.

I don't think the opponents to this measure will be able to win because the 1996 Immigration law says it's legal for local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws as long as it's accepted by the state. Read my post on this in Dixie's post on enforcement in General Discussion.