In 2010, the state passed the toughest immigration law in ...



Immigration reform bill may shift Arizona's roleIn 2010, the state passed the toughest immigration law in the nation with Senate Bill 1070, requiring police to check immigration status.PHOENIX -- Arizona has played a prominent role in the?nation's debate on illegal immigration, taking a tough stance on enforcement and pushing for the federal government to secure the border with Mexico.But the federal immigration-reform measure introduced in Congress last week would take the country in a direction that could leave Arizona's get-tough policy in the dust and change the state's role on the issue.Over the past 17 years, Arizona voters, the state Legislature and Gov. Jan Brewer have supported measures that deny driver's licenses and public benefits to illegal immigrants, fine employers who hire illegal immigrants and require illegal immigrants to pay out-of-state tuition for college. In 2010, the state passed the toughest immigration law in the nation with Senate Bill 1070, which requires law enforcement to check immigration status in certain situations.The overarching theme was a push for "attrition through enforcement" — passing strict laws designed to deter more illegal immigrants from coming to Arizona and to encourage those already here to leave.Now, the federal immigration bill crafted by the Senate's bipartisan "Gang of Eight," including Arizona Republicans John McCain and Jeff Flake, proposes moving the nation toward comprehensive reform that incorporates securing the border, offering a way for illegal immigrants already in the country to become U.S. citizens, strengthening workplace enforcement and creating new visa programs.Supporters of the proposal say it's Arizona's chance to lead the nation in a new direction and reform the state's reputation."This is our opportunity as Arizona to reboot on the conversation of immigration reform and to show the world what the Arizona we know and love is made of," said Denise Resnik, co-founder of the?Real Arizona Coalition, a bipartisan group of community leaders that last year proposed an immigration-reform framework that covered many of the same topics in the federal proposal. "It's our opportunity as Arizona to lead."Opponents say the nation's leaders are out of touch and the majority of Americans still want enforcement-focused efforts such as Arizona's."Arizona has been on the forefront in dealing with this issue," said Senate President Andy Biggs, a Republican from Gilbert. "Our party, at least, remains adamant on an enforcement track, which is what Arizona has done. SB 1070 is still very popular."New directionArizona's signature immigration legislation has been a lightning rod for controversy, prompting protests, lawsuits and the recall of its primary sponsor, former state Sen. Russell Pearce. It also spurred some state leaders to begin pushing for a federal solution that went beyond just enforcement.The Real Arizona Coalition, which included a wide variety of business leaders, religious organizations, minority advocacy groups and both Democratic and Republican elected officials, was formed partly in response to enforcement-only proposals such as SB 1070."It has been clear to us that enforcement-only strategies are not the answer. But it was the path that Arizona felt it needed to go when there was federal inaction," Resnik said. "Now, hopefully, we can show the rest of the world that we're not a bunch of ... well, you fill in the blank."Sen. Bob Worsley, a Republican from Mesa, who defeated Pearce during a heated primary last year in which immigration was center stage, said SB 1070 spurred him and many others around the country to push the federal government to get involved. Worsley, part of the Real Arizona Coalition, said SB 1070 was born out of frustration that the federal government wasn't addressing the problem, particularly in Arizona, which has one of the most porous borders in the nation."If you look through the lens of state enforcement only, it could be perceived that Arizona is anti-immigrant," he said. "But what we have demonstrated with the Real Arizona Coalition and with the Gang of Eight and our two senators is that Arizona wants to solve the whole problem."The state's business community also has been among the leaders in the Arizona-based push for federal immigration reform.Todd Sanders, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, said Arizona should be recognized for its work beyond SB 1070."The comprehensive solution that I think is coming in many ways comes from a lot of the ideas that germinated here in Arizona," he said. "That speaks really well for our state. It puts us front and center."Continued enforcementIn Arizona, there are signs that the tone of the immigration debate has shifted slightly — even within the Republican-controlled state Legislature. But a group of conservative lawmakers remains firm in its belief that the state and the nation support strong enforcement.Through executive action, President Barack Obama expanded the deferred-action program to allow undocumented immigrants under 31 years old who came to the U.S. before they were 16 and have lived in this country for five consecutive years to apply for a two-year reprieve from deportation.Even Brewer has softened her rhetoric, saying she'd be willing to work with leaders on federal immigration reform as long as the border is secured first.But not everything has changed, and many Republicans remain firm in their belief that Arizona has been on the right path all along and want the state and the nation to focus on enforcement.Biggs said he does not believe a majority of Arizona Republicans will support a proposal that includes amnesty for illegal immigrants."It's always the elite who are out of touch," he said. "When you have a porous border, amnesty is one of the craziest things you can do."The bill introduced last week requires Homeland Security to develop a $3 billion border-security plan and a $1.5 billion border-fencing plan. Both plans must be completed before illegal immigrants can begin to apply for the bill's proposed new temporary visa. Law-abiding immigrants who entered the country before Dec. 31, 2011, and have paid a $500 penalty will then be able to apply.Once the country meets border-security goals, immigrants granted these visas who meet the criteria, including waiting 10 years, could then apply for permanent residency.SB 1070's impactIt's too early to determine how passage of the federal immigration-reform proposal might impact Arizona and other states with SB 1070-like laws. But supporters and opponents agree there probably will be some fallout.Under the proposal, only qualifying immigrants who are granted registered provisional immigrant status would be considered to have legal status. Nothing in the proposal grants all illegal immigrants automatic legal status.Worsley said there is still a role for SB 1070, even if the federal proposal passes. "The federal plan moves out of the realm of enforcement the 10 million or so that might be perfectly good, hardworking people that just came here for the opportunities," he said. "We should sort them out before we go after the million that are bad guys. But then we need (SB 1070) for that enforcement piece."Sen. Steve Gallardo, a Democrat from Phoenix, said if federal reform passes, that's even more reason for Arizona to overturn SB 1070. "We need to repeal all the bad public policy that's been passed," he said. "That's the first step forward, Arizona's first step in truly tackling realistic immigration reform." ................
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