Arizona Governor Considers Immigration Enforcement Bill

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has until Saturday, April 24 to decide whether to sign a stringent immigration enforcement bill passed by the Arizona legislature. Senate Bill 1070 requires, among other things, that law enforcement officials coming into contact with persons believed to be an alien unlawfully present in the United States make a reasonable attempt to determine the immigration status of such persons. Law enforcement also may arrest a person if probable cause exists that the person has committed any public offense that makes the person removable (“deportable”). Senate Bill 1070 also impacts employers in several ways, including by mandating that employers retain E-Verify verification records for a minimum of three years. E-Verify participation is required of Arizona employers under the Legal Arizona Workers Act (see the March 2010 issue of the Immigration eAuthority for more information). Senate Bill 1070 also makes stopping a motor vehicle to pick up and hire individuals for work a misdemeanor if the motor vehicle blocks or impedes traffic. As perhaps the most comprehensive bill of its kind, the bill has attracted nationwide attention. For a summary of the entire bill, see the Arizona State Legislature website.