PHOENIX — An Arizona Senate committee late Tuesday narrowly approved a sweeping bill that would target illegal immigrants in public housing, public benefits and the workplace.
Republican Sen. Russell Pearce is the sponsor of the bill that the Appropriation Committee approved on a 7-6 vote. It now advances to consideration by the full Senate after a legal review and discussions by party caucuses.
Pearce also authored a controversial illegal immigration law enacted last year. The law touched off a nationwide debate on whether states can enforce federal immigration laws.
The Republican-led Appropriations Committee earlier Tuesday approved a bill designed to set up a U.S. Supreme Court case on automatic citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.
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