State law employer sanctions in Arizona continues to generate controversy
“State law employer sanctions has certainly had an effect on local businesses. This, added to the crisis we are living other sectors such as construction, is affecting everyone,” said James E. Efe Garcia, spokesman for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Arizona (AZHCC, in English). He said that experts in different areas are currently studying the effect of this legislation and other anti-illegal immigration have had in Arizona and the results will be presented in a study next year. “Apply this type of law has a very high cost, money that should be used for other purposes,” he added Garcia. The measure, which aims to discourage illegal immigration, took effect in January 2008 and awarded millions of dollars to each county to investigate such cases. To date, nine of the fifteen counties in Arizona have not spent the money received as they have received few or no complaints about possible violations of state law.
But a very different picture was living in Maricopa County, where sits the state capital, Phoenix, where Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, have joined forces in a frontal fight against illegal immigration .
According to statistics of these units, the 2.86 million dollars received to investigate and apply this law have already been spent almost entirely.
Thomas”s office said more than half was used to pay ten staff members, including seven lawyers, who were responsible for investigating cases related to identity theft and other crimes related to illegal immigration. (more…)