Restriction on trespassing arrests called 'ruse'

By PAUL DAVENPORT
Associated Press Writer

PHOENIX (AP) -- A Democratic critic called a purported restriction of an illegal immigration criminalization measure a "ruse" that wouldn't really effect whether suspected illegal immigrants could be arrested under the state's trespassing law.

Republican legislation awaiting Senate consideration would make illegal immigrants' presence in Arizona a crime under the state's trespassing law. But a change from a version previously vetoed by Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano would prohibit an arrest or stop for trespassing unless the police officer had reason to believe the person had committed another state or federal offense.

Republicans said they added the so-called "secondary offense" provision in response to fears expressed by law enforcement officials and others that expanding the trespassing law could lead to mass roundups of suspected illegal immigrants.