Arizona Legislature
1700 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2844
Senate President Ken Bennett (R-1)
602-926-5584
House Speaker Jim Weiers (R-10)
602-926-4173
April 17, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Governor Continues to Frustrate Legislative Efforts to Curb
Illegal Immigration -- Vetoes another Major Border Enforcement
Bill
(State Capitol, Arizona) – Contrary
to her rhetoric on border enforcement issues, Governor Napolitano
today continued to avoid doing anything meaningful to stem
the tide of illegal immigration by vetoing the measure that
would have made it a state crime to be in Arizona after entering
the U.S. illegally.
Under Senate Bill 1157, being in Arizona in
violation of immigration laws would have created a class 1
misdemeanor for a first offense. Subsequent arrests would
have subjected illegal aliens to being charged with felony
offenses.
The bill was designed to give local law enforcement
a tool they have never had before. In situations where there
is reason to believe that a person is in the United States
illegally, state and local officers would have had a basis
to hold and transfer the person to federal authorities or
bring that person in on a state charge.
Bill sponsor, Senator Barbara Leff, said,
“This bill was intended to give law enforcement a tool
to use in pursuing their duty of protecting the public. Being
forced to let illegal immigrants go free after apprehending
them in the desert, at a drop house or in a van is not in
the best interest of the public.”
President Bennett said, “I don’t
know how the governor can reconcile what she says with what
she fails to do to protect Arizona in this escalating crisis.
The legislature continues to provide the opportunity to put
critical tools in place to stem the tide of illegals flowing
across the border, the governor continues to avoid enacting
them at every turn.”
House Speaker Jim Weiers said, “Gov.
Janet Napolitano talks tough when it comes to border issues
but her actions show a public official willing to welcome
hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens into Arizona. We need
a governor who backs up tough talk with serious action."
SB 1157 would have also created a fingerprint database of
those charged with this crime, especially critical in tracking
coyotes, drug dealers and other dangerous elements among illegal
border crossers. Its obvious deterrent affects were also lost
with today’s veto.
Governor Napolitano has already this session
vetoed a $10 million appropriation to fund the use of National
Guard troops to reinforce Arizona’s southern border
after last year vetoing nearly a dozen measures passed by
the legislature to address various aspects of the illegal
immigration crisis. The governor has previously supported
drivers licenses for illegals and vigorously opposed Proposition
200 in 2004 that voters passed overwhelmingly which denied
public benefits to illegals and took steps to ensure that
only citizens cast ballots at Arizona’s voting booths.
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For further information contact:
Nick Simonetta, Communications and Policy Advisor to the Majority
Arizona State Senate
Office: (602) 926-5418, e-mail: nsimonet@azleg.gov
OR
Barrett Marson, Director of Communications
Arizona House of Representatives
Office: (602) 926-3233, e-mail: bmarson@azleg.gov