Arizona governor revises law

May 1, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

PHOENIX

Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday signed a follow-on bill approved by Arizona legislators that makes revisions to the state’s sweeping law against illegal immigration — changes she says should quell concerns that the measure will lead to racial profiling.

The law requires local and state law enforcement to question people about their immigration status if there’s reason to suspect they’re in the country illegally and makes it a state crime to be in the United States illegally.

The follow-on bill signed by Brewer makes changes that she said should lay to rest concerns of opponents.

Lawyers whose clients have filed lawsuits challenging the law did not immediately return calls to comment.

The changes include one strengthening restrictions against using race or ethnicity as the basis for questioning by police and inserts those same restrictions in other parts of the law.

Another change states that immigration-status questions would follow a law-enforcement officer’s stopping, detaining or arresting a person while enforcing another law. The earlier law had referred to a “contact” with police.

Another change specifies that possible violations of local civil ordinances can trigger questioning on immigration status.

Both the law and the changes to it will take effect July 29 unless blocked by a court or referendum filing.

Lawmakers approved the follow-on bill before ending their 2010 session.