
PHOENIX (AP) - The Bishops of the Catholic Conference of Arizona are speaking out against proposed legislation that would make Arizona the only state in the country to criminalize the presence of illegal immigrants.
The proposal, now under consideration at the state Legislature, also would require police to try to determine people's immigration status when there's reasonable suspicion they are in the country
illegally.
The Catholic bishops in Phoenix, Tucson and Gallup, N.M. say the legislation may make illegal immigrants afraid to report crimes, allowing some dangerous criminals to stay on the streets.
The bishops also say criminalizing the presence of illegal immigrants may lead to unintended consequences. They say the legislation doesn't limit enforcement, so authorities could criminalize the presence of children.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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