Arizona Governor Refuses to Criminalize Illegals

Sometimes, law enforcers fail to respond because their jurisdiction has been constrained by politicians. Here's an example.

From AZCentral.com:

Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed a bill Monday that would have criminalized the presence of illegal immigrants in Arizona, citing opposition from police agencies that want immigration arrests to remain the responsibility of the federal government.

The proposal would have expanded the state's trespassing law to let local authorities arrest illegal immigrants anywhere in Arizona, the nation's busiest illegal entry point. Congress also had considered criminalizing the presence of illegal immigrants in the country.

Supporters said the bill would have given Arizona a chance to get a handle on its vast border problems by providing a second layer of enforcement to catch the tens of thousands of immigrants who slip past federal agents each year.

I see this as a simple abdication of responsibility by the state government. As a result, there should be no complaining by the citizens of Arizona about the cost of educating and providing welfare for foreign trespassers in the state. Of course, Arizonans could decide to elect politicians with a bit more backbone and become proactive in solving the problem. Pick your future, Arizona.