Legal Arizona Workers Act 101, or ...

Everything you need to know about the new employer-sanctions law.

Nov. 28, 2007 01:34 PM

Reporter Ronald J. Hansen has compiled the basics on Arizona's new employer-sanctions law, which is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. U.S. District Judge Neil Wake heard arguments for and against the law Nov. 14 and is expected to rule in the case before the end of the year.

If you have additional questions about the law or want to offer comments appropriate for publication, e-mail Hansen at ronald.hansen@arizonarepublic.com.

What is the law?

The sanctions law, known as the Legal Arizona Workers Act, is intended to ensure that no businesses in Arizona knowingly or intentionally hire or employ illegal immigrants.

Beginning Jan. 1, all business owners in Arizona risk losing their state and local licenses if they knowingly or intentionally - the law makes a distinction between "knowingly" and "intentionally" - hire undocumented workers after that date. Licenses can be suspended for 10 days or longer for a first offense and revoked altogether for a second offense.

Employers are required to check the legal status of their new hires using E-Verify, a free online federal program that checks names and identification documents to ensure that new employees are eligible to work.

The law also sharpens the punishment for identity theft, a crime frequently associated with illegal workers.

It is now aggravated identity theft, a felony, to possess the identity information of someone else to seek work or to have such information for three or more people without their consent.