Arizona Senate Head Renews Push to Get Tough on Immigration

Arizona Republican Senate President Russell Pearce plans a renewed push for even tougher immigration laws in the state that has led the country in restricting illegal immigration.

Arizona has been blazing the path for other states to follow in tightening immigration laws since the federal government has failed to do so. Dozens of states are pursuing laws similar to what Arizona passed last year, the Arizona Daily Star reported Thursday.

Now, Pearce is pushing a new set of measures. Last month, five controversial immigration bills failed. The failed measures included laws that would have denied citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants and required parents to show they’re in the country legally to enroll their children in school. One measure also would have required hospitals to report immigrants who show up for treatment but couldn’t prove their legal status.

Pearce said the enforcement provisions of the defeated measures can be approved. Those include, requiring public housing authorities to evict any family if any member is an illegal immigrant, making it a crime for an illegal immigrant to drive a vehicle in Arizona and restricting the ability of those not here legally to register a vehicle.