State Workers Can Be Jailed For|Not Turning in Suspected Aliens

PHOENIX (CN) - The Arizona Supreme Court dismissed without prejudice a constitutional challenge of a new state law that requires public employees to report undocumented immigrants. The law, which took effect Nov. 24, states that any public employee or supervisor who fails to report known violations of federal immigration law is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by a $750 fine and 4 months in jail.

The League of Arizona Cities and Towns claimed that the illegal immigration measure was illegally enacted as part of a budget bill in an August special legislative session.

But the state Supreme Court wrote that the league "did not establish circumstances sufficient to render it proper for the original special action petition to be brought to this court."

The justices said the complaint may be addressed to a lower court, however.

The law also makes it possible for any Arizona resident to sue a government worker who is believed to be undocumented.

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