Jones Supports Arizona Anti-Illegal Immigration Law

Press Release

Jones Supports Arizona Anti-Illegal Immigration Law

Today U.S. Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) expressed his support for Arizona's new anti-illegal immigration law. The "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act", which Governor Jan Brewer signed into law last Friday, gives Arizona law enforcement important tools to help fight illegal immigration. State lawmakers believe this legislation will help reign in a rising tide of violence, drug trafficking and illegal immigration along Arizona's border with Mexico.

"Given all the problems Arizona has with illegal aliens, I believe this bill is completely justified," said Jones. "Arizona is doing what is necessary to protect its citizens and this is a good step toward getting a handle on illegal immigration and all the problems associated with it."

The bill provides law enforcement officials with more authority than they have under current law. For example, during lawful contact between an officer and an individual, the bill directs state and local officers to inquire into the immigration status of anyone who they reasonably suspect is in the country illegally.

The bill will also:

* Allow law enforcement officers to arrest aliens unable to provide documents proving they are legally in the U.S.
* Make it illegal for people to transport illegal aliens if the driver knows or recklessly disregards that the passengers are here illegally.
* Allows citizens to sue police agencies who do not comply with the law and government agencies that adopt policies that hinder the enforcement of immigration laws.

"Hopefully this bill will wake up the Administration and this Congress to the true depths of the illegal immigration crisis along our Southern Border," said Jones. "Rather than cut funding for the Border Patrol as the President proposed to do in his budget, Congress needs to provide Border Patrol with the tools they need to do their job. Our safety and security depend on it."

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