Arizona Gov. Vetoes Immigration Bill

Gov.Janet Napolitano of Arizona has vetoed a billthat would have punished employers who hire undocumented immigrants andauthorized the police to arrest undocumented immigrants on trespassing chargesmerely for being in the state.

Ms.Napolitano, a Democrat who is running for a second term and is doing well inpublic opinion polls, said yesterday in a letter to legislators that parts ofthe bill would have violated the federal government’s power to enforce immigration law under theConstitution and were opposed by many law enforcement groups and leaders inborder communities.

Ms.Napolitano said that although she supported holding employers accountable forhiring undocumented workers, the bill provided “amnesty” because itlet them avoid penalties and fines by simply firing the workers after receivinga warning from the state authorities. She said she opposed charging undocumentedimmigrants with trespassing because law enforcement groups and municipalleaders said it would overwhelm the police. Click here.

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