Pearce says sanctions law covers all workers

CHRIS KAHN and PAUL DAVENPORT

Associated Press Writers
Dec. 14, 2007 06:07 AM

A new state law that penalizes business owners who employ illegal immigrants will apply to every worker in the state when it goes into effect on Jan. 1, not just people hired after the new year, the law's chief sponsor said Thursday.

State Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, told The Associated Press that people have misunderstood the employer sanctions law as applying only to new hires.

He said businesses will be penalized for knowingly employing any illegal immigrant after Jan. 1, regardless of when that person started working.

"If you continue to employ them, there's no forgiveness for that," Pearce said. "We're not going to forgive you if you're in violation of the law at the time. It's just kind of a common sense thing."