Enforcing Arizona’s Employer Sanctions Law

Mike Sunnucks of the Business Journal of Phoenix reports:

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio are teaming to enforce a new state law that will punish employers that hire illegal immigrants.

The state employer sanctions law will revoke the business licenses of companies caught knowingly hiring illegal immigrants more than once.

Business interests and Hispanic groups are challenging the state law in court, saying such matters are a federal concern and violate due-process rules.

Arpaio and Thomas said Thursday their offices will work together to investigate complaints regarding businesses hiring illegal immigrants. They have taken an aggressive approach to enforcing immigration laws, including prosecuting illegal immigrants under human smuggling statutes for “smuggling themselves.”

Arpaio has set up a hotline for the public to report smugglers, illegal immigrants and businesses that hire undocumented workers.

Business and Hispanic critics of the sanctions law and Arpaio hotline say those efforts discriminate against Hispanics and violate due-process and civil rights laws. Click here for the whole story.

bh