Arizona House To Take Up Sweeping Immigration Bill
Donna Rossi
Reporter, KPHO.com

POSTED: 6:04 pm MST March 29,2010
UPDATED: 6:59 pm MST March 29,2010

PHOENIX -- The Arizona House of Representatives is set to debate a Senate bill that calls for sweeping changes in state laws dealing with illegal immigration.

SB 1070 has already passed the Senate and is scheduled to be debated by a House committee Wednesday morning. The bill would make it a state crime to be in Arizona if you are in the country illegally. It would also make it illegal to hire day laborers or transport anyone who is an illegal immigrant.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Russell Pearce of Mesa, said it's time Arizona wakes up.

"It's about time we recognize citizens have a constitutional right to expect our laws to be enforced. The failure to do that cost us in jobs, billions of dollars to educate, medicate and incarcerate illegal aliens," said Pearce.

Opponents of the bill said the cost to cities and counties would be prohibitive in a time when they're already pressed for cash and resources. "Increase in police work, increases for prosecutors, for the judiciary, for social services that are already very strained in this years Arizona sate budget," said Jaime Farrant with the Border Action Network.

Immigration rights activists also believe the legislation, if passed, would infringe on the rights of U.S. citizens. "This bill will require people to carry a passport or something that will state you're a U.S. citizen and if you cannot prove that, police officers are required to arrest you on the spot," said Farrant.

Pearce said the bill is a good bill and the concerns being raised are fabricated. If the bill passes, Arizona would have the most comprehensive immigration enforcement laws in the county.

"I've had 18 states so far contact me and are watching this because they would like to do something similar. They're excited about it," said Pearce.

Supporters of the bill believe they have the votes to pass the legislation and the support of the governor to get it signed into law.

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