May 26, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Legislature Sends Comprehensive Measure to Combat Illegal Immigration to Governor

(State Capitol, Arizona) – The long held practice of allowing illegal aliens to cross into Arizona with impunity ends with the passage of a comprehensive border security measure approved late Thursday by the Arizona Legislature – provided Governor Napolitano decides to sign the measure into law.

House Bill 2577 invests $160 million to bolster the enforcement of the state’s international border and to increase protection of Arizonans from the economic, environmental and public safety nightmare resulting from the steady stream of aliens crossing illegally. The legislature also addressed concerns expressed by the governor by making the new state crime of trespass a secondary offense and altering the manner in which the National Guard would be deployed.

The measure includes the following major border enforcement provisions:

• Providing for technology to address the flood of illegal border crossers with $50 million over the next two years to provide for a high-tech radar detection system at the border.

• Deployment of National Guard to the border with a $10 million appropriation to perform actual National Guard responsibilities.

• Denies public benefits to illegal aliens and prohibits any government entity in Arizona to accept any identification unless it was issued by a state or federal authority, or federally recognized Indian tribe.

• Grants to local agencies of $55 million to assist in border interdiction, enforcement and detention. Grants are awarded by the Arizona Border Enforcement Security Team made up primarily of local law enforcement officials.

• Ending any sanctuary policies that may exist in counties, cities and towns, requiring political subdivisions to support full compliance of laws related to illegal immigration.

• $28.8 million to the Gang & Immigration Task Force which includes funding for 100 new DPS officers for border enforcement.

• Prohibits illegal aliens from participating in various social welfare programs.

• Illegal aliens and the businesses that hire them now face consequences for flaunting U.S. law. HB 2577 provides for employer sanctions for businesses that knowingly employ illegal aliens, including fines, penalties and possible revocation of business license. (Includes additional $2 million to the Attorney General for enforcement).

• Creates a secondary offense for criminal trespass in Arizona by virtue of entering and remaining in the state illegally with the first offense being a misdemeanor. Provides a tool by which local law enforcement can either refer offenders for prosecution or transfer them to federal authorities.

• Clarifies that peace officers are permitted to enforce federal immigration laws.

• Addresses the environmental impact of illegal immigration with $850,000 for prisoner clean-up crews and $200,000 for an environmental impact study of the effects of illegal immigration.

• To the extent money is made available from the federal government for border enforcement, border initiatives will be funded by federal dollars.

President Bennett said, “This legislation is critical to a state that has literally been overrun by illegal immigration. Governor Napolitano cannot continue to veto border enforcement legislation and stonewall on solutions to this enormous problem, and still claim she cares about the taxpayers of Arizona on any level.”

Speaker Weiers said, "With this bill, we can now have real border security and real security for our neighborhoods."

Senator Barbara Leff, Co-chair for the border legislation Conference Committee, said, “Arizona is on the front line of this crisis everyday. We owe it to every citizen to do as much as we can to provide some relief as quickly as possible.”

Representative Pearce said, "Enough is enough. We will no longer allow those who come here illegally to do so without impunity. No more sanctuary policies by local law enforcement, no more ignoring employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens and we will secure the border and stop this invasion."

Senator Dean Martin said, “"We need to end the taxpayer subsidies for illegal immigrants. That’s what this bill does."

Governor Napolitano has already vetoed a National Guard $10 million appropriation and a trespass bill earlier this session, but continues to talk publicly about having an interest in addressing border enforcement issues.

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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