Illegal immigration has become a national policy issue in recent years, but it has been a focal point in Arizona for much longer.
After Clinton-era policies designed to suppress illegal immigration in the San Diego area of California the last 20 years saw a major increase in illegal border crossings in Arizona, and that eventually begat drug- and human-trafficking lanes through the desert that became difficult to control.
With the election of Donald Trump as president last fall, and his platform vowing to “build a wall” on the southern border and deport all illegal immigrants in the country, there was much fear through the immigrant communities around the country. But in Arizona, this is old hat; those who have been pro-immigrant and those in support of immigration enforcement have both seen many of the issues that are creeping around the country, and there are groups that are doing their part of managing the issue as best they can.
With illegal immigration being such a major issue over the last two decades, the state has passed several illegal immigration bills designed to make less appealing illegal crossings – such as using fraudulent or stolen Social Security numbers for employment purposes as a felony instead of a misdemeanor and eliminating social service access to illegals. This is not to mention the highly controversial Senate Bill 1070, which was designed to give law-enforcement officials tools to determine immigration status of those they question if they suspect the person may not have documentation or proof or status.
The laws in Arizona are generally more stringent than just about anywhere else in America, and if you are potentially in violation of any of these laws because of some other offense, having a quality Phoenix attorney to fight for your rights can mean all the difference between just serving prison time and potentially leaving the country you know best.
Immigration is a complicated issue, and when juxtaposed with state statutes, your future should not be left in the hands of a public defender or an immigration-law specialist. You deserve a holistic approach to the law to make sure you are protected and treated in a just and fair way through your case.
