PHOENIX - Without debate, the Senate on Monday approved a far-reaching measure designed to give police more power, and more impetus, to stop and arrest those who they believe are in the country illegally.
SB 1070 would require police to make a "reasonable attempt" to determine the immigration status of anyone they come into contact with during an investigation. And it would make the mere presence of an illegal immigrant anywhere in Arizona a violation of state trespass laws.
Other provisions of the measure would:
• Bar government agencies from having policies precluding employees from reporting someone seeking a permit, license or benefit to federal authorities if they are here illegally.
• Prohibit undocumented workers from soliciting work in public places, and making it a crime for them to do any sort of work at all in Arizona.
• Make it illegal to stop on a street to hire temporary workers.
• Allow people to be arrested for transporting, concealing or harboring anyone if they knew or "recklessly disregarded the fact'' the person has entered this country illegally.
It also would set out the rules for what constitute "sting" operations designed to catch employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. It says employers who want to claim they were "entrapped" must show the idea of breaking the law started not with them but with police or prosecutors, and the fact police concealed their real identity does not make the arrest unfair.
Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, said that although enforcement of immigration laws is primarily a federal responsibility, he wants to eliminate what he calls "sanctuary policies," by which cities preclude employees, including police, from even asking about immigration status.
The 17-13 vote sends the measure to the House.
Separately, the Senate voted 18-12 for SB 1027, which would require the Department of Public Safety to seek grant funds to try to purchase seismic sensors designed to detect illegal immigration and drug trafficking at airports. Pearce said Arizona has lots of runways in remote areas. He said sensors would alert law enforcement when an aircraft lands.
