Posted on 04/18/2006 10:18:22 AM PDT by BradtotheBone
Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed a bill that would have criminalized the presence of illegal immigrants in Arizona, citing opposition from police agencies that want immigration arrests to remain the responsibility of the federal government.
The proposal would have expanded the state's trespassing law to let local authorities arrest illegal immigrants anywhere in Arizona, the nation's busiest illegal entry point. Congress also had considered criminalizing the presence of illegal immigrants in the country.
In a letter to lawmakers, Napolitano said she opposes automatically turning all immigrants who sneaked into the state into criminals and that the bill provided no funding for the new duties.
"It is unfortunate that the Legislature has once again ignored the officials who are most directly affected by illegal immigration and instead has passed yet another bill that will have no effect on the problem but that will impose an unfunded burden on law enforcement," Napolitano wrote Monday.
Supporters said the bill would have given Arizona a chance to get a handle on its vast border problems by providing a second layer of enforcement to catch the tens of thousands of immigrants who slip past federal agents each year.
Republican Sen. Barbara Leff of Paradise Valley, who proposed the bill, said the governor has painted herself as tough on illegal immigration by declaring a state of emergency at Arizona's border, but has taken little action to back up her rhetoric.
"I don't think the governor wants to do anything about this problem," Leff said. She said the bill would have been a means to detain illegal immigrants until federal agents can pick them up.
The Democratic governor, accused by her Republican critics of being soft on immigration, has vetoed other immigration bills from the GOP- majority Legislature within the past year, including a proposal to give police the power to enforce federal immigration laws.
While immigrants provide the economy with cheap labor, Arizona spends tens of millions of dollars each year in health care and education costs for illegal workers and their families. An estimated 500,000 of the state's population of about 6 million are illegal immigrants.
Haa, at least she thinks she is a man.
That's nice. With the exception of Joe being a great sheriff and tough on crime he is an ultra liberal in all other areas. JFYI
My wishful thinking too...along the lines of TRYING to get rabid people to reason beyond their own pet grip and do something starting at the STATE level where it can actually ACCOMPLISH something. I guess there's no cure for this type of rabies though.
Makes sense. They were out of line by acting as vigilantes....so says presidente Jorge Bush.
Uh dude... its spelled with a "A", not I.
Since when can local officals look the other way when federal laws are broken? Didn't we already fight a civil war over this issue?
Of course Napolitano would veto the bill. She and every other Rat see the illegal alien invasion as 11 million new Democrats.
"I'm not spinning. Read post 62. This is my position. I think the "restitution" argument is a bad one.
That is all."
The entire reason that people come here illegally is to get a job.
Your arguement that the employer is not the one to make restitution is like an arguement that a mafia boss hires a hitman and the mafia boss should not have to pay any price because it is the hitman that did the illegal activity. The hitman would not be a hitman if there were not people that employ hitmen.
"I don't mind immigrants. I'm all for it. Just LEGALLY."
Same here. If, nationally we need less, we should reduce the number of visas appropriately. If, nationally we need more, we should increase the visas appropriately.
I have no problem with people from other nations, any other nations, coming here legally. It is those that come here without going through the proper channels I have a really big problem with.
So you are mad about the illegals. Fair enough.
I would like to suggest that you not become psychotic over it.
By your post, an employer of illegals is like a mafia boss and the illegal is like a hitman.
"It's a FEDERAL law!!!!"
Well, aint that special. I guess state and local When there is an FBI APB for a terrorist wanted on a Federal matter, it'll give us all warm and fuzzies to know that the FBI will on their own hunting down the perp.
Are you going to kick her out of office next go around???
No, that was in another bill that she vetoed.
Yes, but they haven't done it yet. It almost looks like they want the vetoes as ammunition to use against her in November.
The reporter lied. The bill provided funding.
Uh dude?...see post # 11
Our Federal government, state leaders, (and we the silent, peaceful people) waited until the point that this is almost impossible to correct, and now we are having a huge problem.
Good grief, will the human race EVER learn to govern itself?
"Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed a bill that would have criminalized the presence of illegal immigrants in Arizona, citing opposition from police agencies that want immigration arrests to remain the responsibility of the federal government. "
and this oxygen waster doesn't think the State of Arizona is part of the Federal Govt?
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