Seattle Times — April 14

Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce is an American hero

Arizona immigration law would be among nation’s strictest

Arizona is moving ahead with anti-illegal-immigrant legislation widely considered among the most stringent in the nation. It would hand the police broad power under state law to check the legal status of people they reasonably suspect are illegal immigrants.

The legislation was approved by Arizona’s House on Tuesday and is heading back to the Senate, which is expected to pass it and send it to Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican. She is expected to sign it.
The police would be authorized to arrest immigrants unable to show documents allowing them to be in the country and the legislation would leave drivers open to sanctions, in some cases for knowingly transporting an illegal immigrant, even a relative.

Immigrants unable to produce documents showing they are allowed to be in the United States could be arrested, jailed for up to six months and fined $2,500.

Currently, officers can inquire about someone’s immigration status only if the person is a suspect in another crime. The bill would allow officers to avoid the immigration issue if it would be impractical or hinder another investigation.

The bill also would allow citizens to sue to compel police agencies to comply with the law, and no city or agency could formulate a policy directing its workers to ignore the law, a provision that advocates said prevents so-called sanctuary orders that police not inquire about people’s immigration status. HERE