Arizona leads way in cracking down on illegal immigration
April 21, 2010
Tough new bill lands on Governor’s desk
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Amidst growing frustration that federal laws aren’t being enforced against illegal aliens and the crimes they commit, the Arizona Senate has passed a tough new bill sponsored by Senator Russell Pearce of Mesa. Senate Bill 1070 requires local law enforcement to fully enforce federal immigration laws of the United States. The bill now sits on the Governor’s desk, awaiting her signature.
“We’ll have less crime. We’ll have lower taxes. We’ll have safer neighborhoods. We’ll have shorter lines in the emergency rooms. We’ll have smaller classrooms,” Sen. Pearce said on the Senate floor Monday.
Pearce says the new law will ultimately save Arizona taxpayers billions of dollars.” This bill recognizes the huge cost to Arizona citizens in the cost to our citizens in crime, social services, jobs taken from Americans and the destruction of the rule of law,” says Pearce.
“This bill reinforces federal law by removing the political handcuffs placed on our law enforcement, empowering state law enforcement with tools it needs to address illegal immigration,” says Pearce, a longtime champion of legislation protecting Arizonans against illegal aliens.
This legislation has the support of the Arizona Police Association representing over 9,000 police officers, most Arizona County Sheriffs, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, Border Patrol Officers, Arizona Highway Patrol, and Maricopa Deputies Law Enforcement Association.
SB 1070 secures enforcement of existing federal laws against illegal immigration and unlawful transporting, harboring or hiring of illegal immigrants. It also allows police officers to check a suspected individual’s immigration status given probable cause and to contact ICE or make necessary arrests.
“This legislation stops practices that hurt Arizonans, like sanctuary cities and ‘catch and release policies,’” said Sen. Pearce. “Illegal is illegal.”