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News & Notes

Senate Republican (Majority) Press Releases
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


June 6, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **REVISED to add quote**

Governor Again Obstructs Efforts to Combat Illegal Immigration
(Vetoes Comprehensive Border Enforcement Bill)


(State Capitol, Arizona) – Governor Janet Napolitano has vetoed the nation’s most comprehensive state legislation to date addressing the illegal immigration crisis. Accompanied by more lame excuses and misleading assertions, the governor continued her pattern of talking tough but doing nothing to deal with Arizona’s horrendous illegal immigration problem.

In her veto message, the governor mostly complains that HB 2577 is not tough enough on Arizona’s business owners –citizens of the United States. It appears that the governor is more interested in punishing Arizona employers than she is in any comprehensive immigration reform.

The governor calls the passage of this historic immigration reform bill ‘political game playing’ by the legislature. Who is really playing political games? Who is encouraging Democrat elected law enforcement officials to complain that it is too difficult to enforce a new Arizona law that makes it a crime to be here in violation of U.S. law? HB 2577 provides the legal tools and the financial means to much better protect the citizens of Arizona, and the governor knows it.

The governor’s trumped up rational cannot explain why she continues to refuse to act to protect Arizonans from the economic, environmental and public safety nightmare resulting from the steady stream of aliens crossing illegally.

House Bill 2577 would have invested $160 million to bolster the enforcement of the state’s international border and discourage the practice of reaping public benefits while staying in Arizona illegally. In this Bill the legislature also addressed concerns previously 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 included 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.

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

• Grants to local agencies $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.

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

• 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, “The time for excuses and posturing has long since passed. Yes, the federal government is debating this crisis, but who knows when and how deeply they will act. Arizona is on the front lines every day. For the governor to pretend she cares about doing something while continually refusing to act is unconscionable.”

Speaker Weiers said, "Again, the governor has thwarted the will of the people. Governor Napolitano is continuing to allow the unabated flow of illegal aliens into Arizona.”

Representative Russell Pearce (R-19) said, “Truly, this governor is the best friend an illegal alien has. It is a sad day when the governor sides with law breakers against law keepers and citizens, who she is supposed to protect.”

President Bennett added, “The people of Arizona deserve action to stem the tide of illegal immigration -- one way or another, this needs to happen.”

Prior to vetoing the comprehensive border security legislation contained in HB 2577, Governor Napolitano earlier in the session vetoed a National Guard $10 million appropriation and a trespass bill. Last year the governor vetoed numerous measures that reflected versions of many of the provisions contained in HB 2577.

###


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