Arizona Senator Pushes for Stricter Illegal Immigration Laws

Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce wants to propose a policy that requires local city and county law enforcement departments to fully enforce federal immigration law.

Pearce claims that Arizona's current laws are too lax, and fuel violence by creating safe havens for illegal immigrants.

Although immigration is considered federal jurisdiction, Pearce believes that tougher border control would reduce the amount of problems that occur on the Arizona border, the busiest point of illegal entry into the U.S.

But police officers say that Pearce's proposal would detract from their traditional role of investigating and stopping crimes, as well as compromise the trust they have built in immigrant communities.

If Pearce's proposal passes, local police would be required to check the immigration status of any person they suspect to be an illegal immigrant.  The police would also be required to refer illegal immigrants, including those who have not committed any crimes, to the federal immigration authorities. The proposal would also require the police authority to develop new internal policies for dealing with illegal immigrants.

The proposal has yet come to a vote.

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