Lawmakers in Arizona Pass a Strong Immigration Measure

The New York Times reported today that the State of Arizona’s House of Representatives approved a measure yesterday that would crackdown on illegal immigration in their state.  The Arizona Senate approved the measure back in February and the bill will be sent to the Governor for signature.

If signed into law, Arizona would be the first state to criminalize an immigrant’s failure to have and present a valid immigration document. State and local law enforcement would be given the authority to arrest any immigrant who cannot prove that he or she has authorization to be in the United States.  

The bill has other immigration provisions such as cracking down on employers that hire undocumented immigrants such as day-laborers and, making it illegal to transport undocumented immigrants if the driver of the vehicle knows of their status.

The measure is controversial because some lawmakers said that they were pressured to support the bill due to mid-term elections coming up later this year.  Additionally, pro-immigration supporters have argued that Arizona would become a police state if the Governor signs this into law.