Arizona Governor Signs Anti- immigration initiative to allow for federal review
Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 10:21PM
TheSpook
Gov. Janet Napolitano, who was on the road, had an aide use a
signature machine Wednesday to sign a voter-approved immigration
initiative after a judge modified his previous order barring it from
taking effect.The measure, approved by voters Nov. 2, requires proof of
legal immigration status when obtaining some government services and
proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Government workers who
don't report illegal immigrants who try to get benefits could face jail
time and a fine. The revised order issued by the judge Tuesday and
Napolitano's signature will allow the initiative's voting provisions to
be submitted for a required federal review. Because of past
violations of minorities' voting rights, Arizona is required to get
U.S. Justice Department approval on any election law changes before
they can take effect. U.S. District Judge David C. Bury's modified
order allowed Napolitano to sign the proclamation putting the
initiative into effect, but it still prohibits implementation of it
provisions on public services pending a Dec. 22 hearing in Tucson. Bury
issued a temporary restraining order Nov. 30 barring implementation of
the law based on a legal challenge from opponents. Opponents said
Proposition 200 is unconstitutional because it usurps the federal
government's power over immigration and naturalization. Their lawsuit
argues that the law will jeopardize families who depend on public
benefits for basic necessities. Bury modified his order in response to
a request filed by the Attorney General's Office on Napolitano's
behalf. The state argued that Napolitano had a constitutional duty to
sign the proclamation "forthwith" and that the voting provisions were
not the subject of the opponents' request for a temporary restraining
order. [more] and [more]
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