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.
What about robbing a federally-chartered bank? Is she going to have the local police not arrest those (federal) law breakers either?
.....she's on the 20% side of an 80% issue...
If that is true, will the veto be overturned?
To say nothing of the infamous Casa Grande Massacre.
"I thought we wanted cheap labor."
***
That too...but in the construction trades here in AZ they get paid prevailing wages, i.e. in the range of $10-$15 per hour, depending on their trade and experience...plus plenty of overtime if they want it. They make a very good living here compared to "whence they came".
The buck stops.... over there.
Napolitano is a scumbag AND a coward.
Paying them that much defeats the purpose, I would think.
Nappy, is a Dem, who just wants cheap votes. The Reps. want the cheap labor, but I'm certain the Dems will take cheap labor, too. They both make just one, jolly, happy family...
This quote intones that she would have signed the bill had it provded for funding / manpower to combat the problem. I do not live in Arizona and am unfamiliar with its Governor. I see she is a Dem, so I am suspicious of this type of talk.
Would she have passed a funded bill?
I wondered about that also. Sure would be sweet...
Just remember Out here there are Illegals who now own the ranch of some guy whomistreated them
They were trespassing, they came to his property in the process of illegally entering the US. They were committing a crime in the US illegally.
He and some fellas captured them (made a citizens arrest) and they whined about kidnapping unlawful detention, being treated badley, blah blah blah.
Those Illegals today Own his Ranch!!!
We are well and truly being betrayed.
W
Janet, honey, if it were legal then they wouldn't have to "sneak" in.
He endorsed her on her election campaign in '02. I doubt he'll run against her.
She was "handed" millions of dollars to put troops on the broder and she VETOED the bill. Don't buy the crap on tv about her broder stance. There is none.
She wants to give them drivers licenses, so they can get insurance! But has stopped Prop 200 voter id, as not everyone has id? Hmm, how do you use a credit card, bank, get water, gas.......she is a walking talking joke.
Don't mean to be picky, but construction trades are paying closer to $18.00 per hour (low end). The documents they present are great, then in a quarter you find out they are fake.
Also the CITY, AND STATE, have work centers for them with don't ask policy.
" Napolitano said she opposes automatically turning all immigrants who sneaked into the state into criminals..."
Wait a minute.....wasn't this already decided years ago? What part of ILLEGAL immigrant doesn't she understand? Is it me or is this the stupidest statement ever uttered?
If you ever listen to this witch, most of what she says is utterly stupid and contradictive.
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