Opinion: What does Arizona’s illegal immigration law actually do?

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Here are some of the new law’s main provisions signed by Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer Friday. It takes effect mid-summer.

Makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally by specifically requiring immigrants to have proof of their immigration status. Violations are a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Repeat offenses would be a felony.

Requires police officers to ‘make a reasonable attempt’ to determine the immigration status of a person if there is a ‘reasonable suspicion’ that he or she is an illegal immigrant. Race, color or national origin may not be the only things considered in implementation. Exceptions can be made if the attempt would hinder an investigation.

Allow lawsuits against local or state government agencies that have policies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws. Would impose daily civil fines of $1,000-$5,000. There is pending follow-up legislation to halve the minimum to $500.
Targets hiring of illegal immigrants as day laborers by prohibiting people from stopping a vehicle on a road to offer employment and by prohibiting a person from getting into a stopped vehicle on a street to be hired for work if it impedes traffic.

Related item:

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer explains her signing of nation’s toughest illegal immigrant law (Full text)

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signs controversial law in state melting pot

-- Associated Press

Click here to receive Twitter alerts of each new Ticket item. Or follow us @latimestot And our Facebook FAN page is right here.